Slave Tribes
by Bill Slavicsek
Credits
Designed by Bill Slavicsek
Edited by Mike Breault
Product Coordination by Timothy B. Brown
Black & White Art by Tom Baxa
Color Art by Brom
Graphic Production by Sarah Feggestad
Typography by Tracey Zamagne
Cartography by Dave Sutherland
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Slave Tribes
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1: Athasian Slavery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 2: The Slave Tribes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 3: Life in a Slave Gibe
............................................................
Appendix: Creating Your Own Tribes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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ISBN 1-56076-271 -3
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Slave Tribes is an accessory for the DARK SUN™
start, and it won’t wait until you’re ready. Hurry!
campaign setting. It features information on slavery on
The sun dips below the horizon, and who knows
Athas, descriptions of some of the prominent slave
tribes roaming the endless wastes, examples of life in a
what another day will bring to this arid land.
Daled’s Chronicle
slave tribe, and even advice on how to create new slave
tribes for your own campaigns.
Be aware, the DARK SUN setting is very differ-
I am Daled, dwarf and ex-slave on this burning
world called Athas. What I am about to share with
you was gathered by guile and tenacity and danger-
ent from other fantasy worlds. It is a brutal, unrelenting world that rewards carelessness with quick
death. Life is precious, exciting, dangerous, and
ous travels. It began as most work does for a slave,
at the behest of my master in far-off Balic. He was a
very, very short. The world, Athas, has seen its fun-
patrician in the city-state, one of the privileged no-
damental nature twisted and warped by centuries of
unrestrained, abusive magic. To survive, the races
bility. To keep his lands, he agreed to undertake a
project generously offered to him by a high-ranking
you know from other AD&D® game settings have
templar.
adapted to this new world by undergoing bizarre
The sorcerer-king of Balic has a desire for knowledge, and he constantly starts research projects to
modifications. Because of this, we suggest you become familiar with the DARK SUN™ boxed set be-
satisfy his most-current curiosity. Like Athas itself,
fore delving into the information set forth in this
book.
the sorcerer-king of Balic thirsts for so many things.
On that day so many cycles ago, he wished to know
That said, Slave Tribes offers much to Dungeon
more about the growing number of slave tribes dot-
Masters and players involved in or getting ready to
start a DARK SUN campaign. First, a discussion
ting the endless wastes. When the job was forced
upon me, it became my focus, my own thirst.
of slavery on Athas describes who slaves are, where
Look around you, for this is Athas! Hot and dry,
the world screams for life-sustaining water to wash
they come from, what they do, and who they do it
for. It also examines the benefits of slavery to Atha-
away the sweat and sand. Slowly dying, it thirsts for
vitality and rejuvenation to make life grow again.
sian society, slaves in the major cities and villages,
and the emerging slave rebellion. After this back-
Brutal and savage, it thirsts for the tranquility of
peace. My world thirsts for many things, but it can
ground information has been laid, you’ll meet the
tribes of ex-slaves that have begun to make names
find no magical, all-quenching liquid to provide re-
for themselves from the Hinterlands to the Sea of
Silt. These tribe profiles make up the bulk of the
lief. There is only the searing heat, and it is as
endless as the desert that covers my world. Add to
book, providing DMs with information, game sta-
these thirsts the thirst to know more about this
tistics, and adventure ideas to use in their own cam-
w o r l d - p a r c h e d b y sun, swept raw by wind, and
p a i g n s . A l o o k at life in a typical slave tribe is
sucked dry by foul magic.
geared toward role-playing and features plenty of
From the Hinterlands to the Sea of Silt and be-
adventure ideas to build upon. Finally, a section on
yond, my world is a pale, withered husk, a fading
creating new tribes provides advice to both DMs
memory of a far-different place only a few can even
and players seeking to swell the ranks of the free.
imagine. Once, some say, there was water so plenti-
The information waits within these pages. What
you and your players do with it is, as always, up to
ful that it covered the land as the sand does today.
So much water! What must it have been like to nev-
you. Now, the hot sand of Athas beckons and the
er be thirsty? I cannot even conjure such a world in
slave tribes grow restless. The rebellion is about to
my dreams, and little good comes from wishing for
3
wide across Athas’s scorched surface. I have seen
things that will never be again.
Another thirst plagues Athas, however, and there
sights of majestic beauty and unparalleled horror. I
may be a way to quench this raging fire. I slowly
learned of it while engaged in the research set before
have visited countless tribes of ex-slaves, each trying
in its own way to carve life out of the stark and un-
me. And, like the other thirsts of Athas, this one
yielding wilderness. I have seen tribes thrive, but
too became a part of me. This thirst burns the
throat of Athas raw in the gladiatorial arenas of
more often I have seen them die.
This is my chronicle of the things I have witnessed
Draj and in the quarry pits of Urik. This thirst is for
or been told about concerning slavery, slave tribes,
and all of the practices associated with both. In the-
freedom; every slave throughout the land desires to
sample its cool, sweet taste. How many have died for
ory, I do this at my tribe leader’s bequest so that the
a few drops of this precious liquid? How many more
future—if there is a future—will know of our strug-
will die to soothe Athas’s parched lips?
gles and dreams. In truth, I do this for myself, to
satisfy an all-consuming need of my own that I bare-
Do not misunderstand me. The practice of keeping slaves was established long before you or I were
ly understand.
born to these hot, wind-swept plains. I am not sure
the cities would survive without the labor provided
The discourses and descriptions that follow have
been culled from years of travel and countless hours
by the strong arms and backs of human, dwarf, and
of listening. Listening is the slave’s art, for the slave
mul slaves. And without the cities, could Athas itself continue to linger, even in this half-life it stub-
learns to blend in and listen from the day he is enthralled, and the owner speaks of what he will with
bornly clings to?
no more regard for the slave than for a table or
But at the same time, we cannot pretend that the
thirst for freedom does not exist, for at times and in
chair. To the owner, after all, property is property.
Still, listening garners only what the listener can
certain places it burns as hot as the afternoon sun.
hear, and many tales grow taller in the telling. While
Some claim that the thirst will set all of Athas on
fire, forcing the slave owners and sorcerer-kings to
I believe that much of what I present is true, some
may no longer be true and some may never have
been true. What was true yesterday can be false to-
douse the flames by granting freedom to every slave.
day because of a sudden shift in the wind. That is
I believe these claims are nothing more than
dreams, but perhaps that is what Athas needs in
these times of so many unquenchable thirsts.
Who am I? I am Daled, once a slave serving a
the nature of life on Athas—nothing is forever but
the sun and sand. Of course, what was false will
patrician in the city of Balic. The noble taught me
probably always be false. Errors cannot be helped,
but please trust that the underlying themes and pat-
to read and write, entrusting me with the chroni-
terns are correct, for these have survived all the tell-
cling of his words and deeds so that they could be
passed on to his family. Then he gave me a task that
ings and, where possible, have stood up to personal
inspection.
would become my focus, the one I spoke of earlier.
Much of the presented material concerns the
Even my freedom, which came unexpectedly and
without planning, has not distracted me from this
thirst for freedom that I spoke of, for this basic need
defines the dreams of so many slaves. I have been
task. Now I am an ex-slave in a tribe of ex-slaves,
charged with bringing these dreams to every slave
continuing to learn and record everything I can
about the slaves living in similar tribes throughout
tribe I visit. How slaves and their tribes respond tells
me a little more about Athas and its people.
Do I believe in the dream of freedom, or do I
the Tyr region.
merely serve it ? I cannot answer that, for in truth I
Since joining my tribe, I have traveled far and
4
do not know. I know that I have tasted freedom and
of it? That is for someone else to decide, for I am
it is very sweet. I never want to thirst for it again,
only the chronicler, and this is the chronicle of the
toiling for a master while my spirit withers beneath
the hot sun of bondage. But do I believe that Athas
can survive this dream and wake up better because
slave tribes of Athas, which it has been my focus to
record.
5
Slavery exists throughout Athas. It thrives in the
slavery from one place to the next; thus, at best, my
city-states of the sorcerer-kings. It flourishes in the
chronicle can be taken as a broad set of guidelines
merchant houses. It lingers in villages far from the
centers of civilization. Almost every living, intelli-
to the institution of slavery.
In some city-states, a visitor may not be able to tell
gent being knows of the practice of capturing, rais-
freeman from slave. In another, slaves have become
ing, and keeping slaves. Some relish the system and
embrace its methods and ideology completely. Some
chattel, treated as things. Some slaves receive favored treatment, living better than the average free-
ignore it with the disdain reserved for the common-
man. Others endure harsh conditions and cruel
place and widely accepted. Others fear it, dreading
the loss of personal freedom that is so tenuous for
punishments as a regular part of their exploitation.
My own experience as a slave was as personal,
those of less than noble birth. Others live it, marked
unique, and universal as any other slave’s. I did
as property and put to work for the good of the citystates, the templars, the nobles, the merchants, or
what I was told to do, when I was told to do it. If I
was a bit too slow, or if I looked displeased with the
the sorcerer-kings. Few understand the practice, for
task set before me, I endured whatever punishment
that is not required. Slavery exists, and that is understanding enough for most people.
my master or his overseer saw fit to dispense. I cannot claim to have been treated any better or any
A few wish to know the hows and whys of things,
worse than others in my position. Indeed, had I been
and I am among them. To know the slaves, we must
know why they are slaves. To understand slavery, we
pampered or maltreated, the situation would have
been the same—I was property, branded and shackled to my master with no personal freedom. That is
must understand the motives and forces that drive
the condition of slavery.
the system. With these goals of knowledge and understanding in mind, I begin this chronicle with
Who Are Slaves?
questions. Perhaps by the time I finish, there will be
answers.
Athasian society is a slave society. Slaves occupy a
central role in the economic and social dynamics of
this world of fire and sand. Slaves come from all
What is Slavery?
uals from all races and stations of life become the
races and social classes, though slaves taken from
the noble or merchant classes usually regain their
property of others. Under this system, the property,
freedom with the help of the ceramic pieces of their
called slaves, can be used or disposed of at the will
of the owners. They perform whatever tasks their
friends or family. Clerics and mages are also rarely
found in bondage, as their powers and abilities pro-
owners set before them, and live basically as their
vide them with abundant opportunities for escape.
owners choose, either in comfort or in squalor.
While this definition works as a banner descrip-
The most common races found among the slave
population are humans, dwarves, half-giants, half-
tion, slavery remains a multi-headed beast. What is
elves, and muls. Less common are elves, thri-kreen,
true of one head may not be true of another. The
system appears one way in one city, while in another
and halflings, though even these races sometimes
show up working in the fields or providing exotic en-
city it takes on a different shape entirely. The system
tertainment in the gladiatorial arenas.
even takes on different aspects within a given city,
depending on the owners, the slaves, and the tasks
How do these people from different societies and
different walks of life come together in the great
to be performed. With this in mind, be aware that
melting pot of slavery? Some are born to it, the sons
customs and specific situations can alter the face of
and daughters of generations of slaves. Others find
Athasian slavery is a system under which individ-
6
themselves captured in war or kidnapped in raids
launched specifically to replenish a city-state’s slave
population. Finally, there are those who are sold into
slavery because of debts or as punishment for some
crime.
Anyone can become a slave. Templar or noble,
merchant or freeman, rich man or poor, the gates of
slavery are wide open, admitting any unfortunate
enough to wander too close to the gaping maw.
Who are slaves? Some say we are all slaves—it is
just a matter of how tightly we are bound.
Who Are Owners?
Any freeman can own slaves, and most keep at
least one slave to handle those tasks considered laborious or below a freeman’s station. Sorcerer-kings
own thousands of slaves, filling every conceivable
duty with chattel labor. These vast numbers of slaves
serve to reduce them to the level of mere property.
Many lead miserable existences as disposable labor.
Nobles tend to keep large numbers of slaves, but
none come close to approaching the servile armies of
the sorcerer-kings. Nobles employ dozens of welltreated household servants, pampered stables of
gladiators, and severely disciplined field workers.
Templars, while they may own slaves, rarely keep
more than a few personal servants and concubines.
Instead, they are free to make use of a city’s slave
population. Whenever a templar needs bodies to
perform some task, he dips into the stables of his
sorcerer-king and takes as many slaves as he needs.
Freemen, on the other hand, can rarely afford
more than a handful of servants, depending on their
level of income and their profession. Slaves owned
by freemen rarely find themselves enduring unpleasant drudgery, such as mining or quarry work. In
fact, a freeman’s slave is one of the best-treated
slaves in all of Athas. Often, these slaves work beside their freemen masters, tending small plots of
land, toiling in craft shops, or constructing private
dwellings somewhere in a city.
Merchant houses keep slaves to handle the labori-
7
ous tasks associated with trade. Hefting, stacking,
owners to impress their peers, slaves can attain a
and carrying goods are jobs assigned to a mer-
good standard of living by demonstrating even rudi-
chant’s slaves. Those merchant houses that produce goods also keep shops full of artisan slaves to
mentary artistic abilities. Those who excel in a particular artistic endeavor achieve a state of pampered
turn out weapons, textiles, and pottery.
luxury for as long as they continue to produce stylish
I have found a direct correlation between how
masters view their slaves and how slaves are treated.
creations. Of course, style is a matter of opinion,
Those who keep large numbers of slaves tend to see
If an artist’s particular style goes out of fashion, the
them as property, a nearly limitless supply of tools
for getting jobs done. Those who keep only a few
artist loses his favored status-and perhaps a whole
lot more.
and the only opinion that counts is that of an owner.
slaves get to know them personally and usually treat
Some owners keep a single artist within their sta-
them more like people. Also, if a freeman has but a
handful of slaves in his service, then each of those
ble of slaves. Others set up workshops full of artisans to turn out as many creations as possible for
slaves becomes too valuable to waste through mal-
their own enjoyment and as a profit-making enter-
treatment or overwork.
Still, do not conclude that some slaves have easy
prise. E x a m p l e s o f a r t i s t i c e n d e a v o r s p o p u l a r
throughout Athas include singing, acting, reciting
lives. Even the most favored servants do not get to
poetry, painting, sculpting, storytelling, and bone
make the simplest decisions concerning their own affairs. Indeed, they have no affairs, except those al-
carving. In addition to these arts, many slaves re-
lowed by their masters.
in theory only templars and nobles are allowed to
What Do Slaves Do?
possess these skills, on penalty of death, in practice
these skills are taught to artist slaves so that they
ceive instruction in reading and writing. Although
may assist an owner with the keeping of records or to
Slaves come in a variety of classes, which are defined by the duties of the slaves that fill their ranks.
enhance a slave’s ability to create works of art.
While the favored artist produces items of style
Whatever the class and its specific duties, slaves
and beauty, the artisans produce finely made crafts
must do anything their owners ask. That is the nature of slavery. The most common classes of slaves
and other useful items. Some artisan workshops
contain dozens of slaves. They keep busy turning
are artists and artisans, concubines, domestic ser-
out pots, drinking cups, clothing, and even armor
vants, farmers, gladiators, laborers, and soldiers. I
will also discuss a rarer breed of slave, the inden-
and weapons. Each workshop and its artisans usually specialize in a given type of craft, be it pottery,
tured scholar.
weaving, or wood or stone working. They produce
Artists and Artisans
excellent weapons, hand-wrought articles of clay,
stone, and bone, and even items of metal, when that
While the arts are appreciated in most Athasian
cities, they are not highly regarded. Templars, no-
rare material can be obtained.
bles, and even the sorcerer-kings enjoy art, often
Concubines
surrounding themselves with the best examples they
can find. The creation of artwork is viewed as a la-
Concubines are slaves kept for the physical enjoyment of their owners. These male and female slaves
borious chore, however, and all chores are entrusted
usually receive pampered treatment, for they are ex-
to slaves.
Because the arts are used by nobles and other
pected to pamper their owners in turn. Expert in all
forms of physical pleasure, concubines employ var-
8
broth with their evening meal. And who would want
ied techniques to accomplish their intimate duties.
to try to order around a half-giant or a mul, when
Rumors persist that a few of the sorcerer-kings
maintain harems full of concubines, while most nobles keep no more than one or two. It is in the ranks
their great strength is better used on other tasks?
of the templars that these purely physical servants
of wealthy Athasian life that few of noble birth
are most often seen, always on hand to attend to
their masters’ needs.
could manage without them. Most nobles look
While many owners come to appreciate and per-
they must employ spouse and children to handle do-
haps even care for their concubine slaves, most regard this class of slave as little more than attractive
mestic tasks. From shopping to stocking supplies,
from milling grain to preparing meals, even to at-
furniture. The fact that concubines are trained to
tending to the physical well-being of masters, the
think of themselves in the same way helps perpetuate the situation. It is the rare concubine slave who
chores assigned to domestic slaves have become so
important to the higher classes that Athasian nobili-
can survive freedom, for they have few skills to make
ty can no longer survive without them.
Domestic slaves have become such an extension
down upon any of their class who are so poor that
use of outside their pampered existence.
Farmers
Domestic Servants
Every city maintains extensive fields of crops and
keeps large herds of animals to provide sustenance
Domestic servants attend to the daily needs of the
households they are bound to. This class of slave
and other materials for their populations. At least
half of all slaves within a given city-state work the
fields and manage the herd animals, such as carru
serves as cook, baby-sitter, chamberlain, butler,
maid, or major-domo for their owners. Some
sorcerer-kings employ dozens upon dozens of do-
and kitsus. These farmers endure the most rigorous
and hardship-laden lifestyles imaginable—with the
possible exception of certain laborers, such as the
mestic servants to handle their individual household
needs, while templars and lesser nobles may keep
but one to fill all of the duties applicable to this slave
quarry workers of Urik.
Farmers must till the soil, reap the crops, weed the
fields, kill dangerous insects with their bare hands,
class.
Many owners have become so dependant on domestic servants to run their households that they
and fetch water with back-breaking regularity. To
would be lost without them. Of the nobles who keep
accomplish these tasks, farmers receive the barest
such slaves, few can care for themselves. They depend on their household slaves to cook their meals,
essentials—just enough food and water to stay alive.
buy their food, raise their children, clean their
than the herd animals they tend.
The farmer slaves of Balic, for example, must
They are beasts of burden, treated more harshly
homes, and even help them dress at the start of the
day.
work exceedingly hard to keep the flocks of kitsus in
their care alive. These strange-looking ‘‘bird-
Most nobles agree that humans and dwarves
make the best domestic servants. Both have the temperament to apply themselves to such mundane
lizards’’ are small creatures with sand-colored
tasks, and most can be trusted or at least controlled
gliding. Not only are these creatures raised to produce eggs, but the cooked flesh of the kitsus makes a
scales, tooth-filled beaks, and feathered wings for
by their owners. Few slave owners, however, would
employ any of the other races to work so close to
particularly tasty dish. If a farmer loses one of his
them. Neither elves nor halflings inspire trust; most
kitsus to death, poacher, or escape, he is punished
owners would be afraid of being served poisoned
by having a strip of skin peeled from his body. Few
9
farmers survive losing more than a handful of the
bird-lizards.
most do very well in the arenas. In contrast, the city-
In Raam, farmer slaves tend herds of carru. They
make sure the hoofed animals eat well, have enough
slaves are taught how to be gladiators through cruel
lessons and harsh treatment. Interestingly, Draj’s
water, and even pluck insects from their short-haired
gladiators are as sought after and feared as those
fur. The four-footed herd animals provide milk and
meat to the city-state, and a single carru is consid-
from House Jarko.
While members of any race can be trained as
ered more valuable than the farm slave who cares
gladiators, one race has made a name for itself in
for it. The animal’s name comes from the sound it
makes through the nasal horn that curves up along
the gladiator arenas and battle pits. Muls are the
its head. Mistreating a carru or allowing one to
and a dwarf, a mul combines the best of both races
into a tough fighting machine. As tall, dexterous
state of Draj sports its own training facilities where
quintessential gladiators. A cross between a human
come to harm before it is scheduled for slaughter is
a serious offense. Tending slaves often endure the
and cunning as a human, a mul is also endowed
terrible punishment associated with these crimes—
with the strength and endurance of the dwarven
slow death in the arena.
Other strict rules govern farmers’ lives. No field
race. Like dwarves, muls have a tenacious singlemindedness that makes them warriors of such deter-
slave may put hand to mouth without the leave of
mination and stamina that few can stand against
his overseer on penalty of a severe beating. If a field
slave steals food or water, he loses a hand. After the
second theft, the now-useless slave is put to death.
them.
Of course, some races wind up in the battle pits
just to provide an exotic flavor to a day’s slate of
matches. Crowds come out to see a thri-kreen or
half-giant gladiator, and even halflings create curi-
Gladiators
osity when they appear on the bill. In rare instances,
Public entertainment in the city-states of Athas
provides momentary distractions from the day-to-
gladiators are pitted against a creature from the unexplored wastelands. Few can resist coming out to
day hardships most citizens endure. The most suc-
watch a mul take on a deadly braxat or gaj.
cessful spectacles take place in the great gladiatorial
arenas, where slaves pit strength and skill against
The gladiator contests inspire wagering, with nobles and freemen alike betting considerable
others for the enjoyment of the masses.
amounts on the outcome of a given battle. Owners
Wealthy templars and nobles keep stables of male
and female gladiators. These slaves are selected for
observe the contests from private boxes high above
the arena, while the less wealthy watch from crowd-
their fighting prowess. Strength, intelligence, speed,
ed bleachers. Many wagerers, whether templar, no-
and skill—these traits are the most desirable in gladiator slaves. Still, every stable maintains a small
ble or freeman, are sold into slavery when their
favorite gladiator falls and they cannot pay off the
stock of exotic and less-than-perfect thralls to use
debt. I have sometimes wondered if a gladiator,
purely for the entertainment they will provide.
While some stables breed and train their own
upon hearing the staggering amounts wagered on
him to emerge victorious, contemplates losing just to
gladiators, most go to one of the merchant house
spite the nobles and templars who bet on him. Un-
gladiatorial schools to replenish their stock. House
Jarko in Balic, for example, maintains one of the
fortunately, a gladiator who loses a match has never
survived for me to ask.
best gladiator schools, and its slaves draw high
prices on the open market. The Jarko slaves receive
excellent training and pampered treatment, and
10
Laborers
material from the ground. These most premium
minerals require a premium cost—the sweat and
Servile laborers endure perhaps the worst condi-
blood of the slaves who labor in the earth with muscle, hand, and tool.
The best laborers come from the strong races.
tions of any class of slaves, depending on the work
they are forced to do and for whom they do it. Those
in the service of freemen generally receive the best
care, for they are too valuable an investment to
Dwarves and half-giants are the most common, but
muls who have become too old or too maimed to
needlessly waste. Those under the whip of the
continue as gladiators can also be found slaving
sorcerer-kings’ overseers are literally worked to
death and then replaced by procuring minor crimi-
away in work gangs from Balic to Raam.
nals and vagrants.
Scholar Slaves
Slaves are employed by freemen labor to build
homes, shops, and other private structures. Those
A rare type of slave found only in the service of
the Shadow King of Nibenay, scholars receive dispensation so that they may openly practice the
in thrall to the kings labor in dangerous mines and
deep quarries, work to build and maintain public
structures, such as temples and city walls, and are
otherwise forbidden skills of reading and writing.
Nibenay has gathered a small group of scholar
slaves (mostly culled from the ranks of nobles and
even put to work on frivolous projects for the amusement or aggrandizement of a sorcerer-king.
Slaves working in the flint pits of Nibenay and the
obsidian quarries of Urik endure the most terrible
templars) to study the ancient writings found in the
ruins near his city.
conditions of all, often dying to pull the precious
Why he uses slaves instead of templars to study
11
the ancient writing remains a mystery, for most of
stand long against these powerful brutes, and even
the scholar slaves never emerge from the university
the sorcerer-kings must employ talented templar of-
Nibenay has prepared for them inside the walled
sub-city. Some say the writing of the ancients drives
ficers to keep the half-giants under control with
magic.
the slaves mad after a time. Others claim that once
Slaves in the City-States
Nibenay’s scholars have deciphered the text, he has
them put to death. I have even heard that the other
To this point I have been somewhat general in my
discussion of Athasian slavery. In the next section, I
sorcerer-kings have begun to grow a bit nervous
about these mysterious rumors.
will briefly touch upon some specifics concerning the
Soldier Slaves
slave condition in the various city-states of the Tyr
In addition to regular army units and local militia,
the sorcerer-kings and the noble houses use armies
is a short overview as to the nature of the manyheaded beast called slavery.
region. This is by no means an exhaustive treatise. It
of slave soldiers to protect the city-states and client
Balic
villages. Often, these armies of slaves are assembled
when danger is imminent. Taken from the fields or
It is said that on the streets of Balic, a visitor can-
other slave stations and equipped with some type of
not tell a freeman from a slave. Of course, this is
weapon, a slave soldier is usually considered as an
added pawn to help the regular soldiers in time of
only said by templars and nobles from other citystates. As a slave who once served in Balic, I can
war. Few city-states maintain more than a token
assure you that only the owners claim the slaves are
standing force of slaves unless absolutely necessary,
and slave soldiers receive rudimentary training at
well-treated. To be fair, what I have learned of the
conditions in other city-states does lend some sub-
best. Only the most confident sorcerer-kings feel
stance to their claim, but twice better than terrible is
comfortable keeping a large force of armed slaves at
the ready within a city’s walls. Discipline among the
still intolerable.
Balic’s slave owners allow their slaves small
slave soldiers is maintained through the use of privi-
amounts of freedom and a satisfactory standard of
leged treatment and swift punishment.
Noble houses, however, have different needs.
living. While the citizens of Balic find their way of
life to their liking (and their token gestures of good-
Many select infant slaves to train to army life, rais-
will toward their slaves ease their troubled con-
ing loyal fighting machines to protect the family’s
interests and to aid the forces of the city-state in time
sciences), citizens of other city-states look down
upon their neighbors from Balic as uncivilized
of war. By its nature, a noble’s slave army is small
brutes who share their privileges and living space
and well-organized. Slave soldiers in service to a noble house receive excellent training from the time
with common property. Many visitors are quick to
point out the lesson of the now-dead city-state of
Yaramuke, where slaves and citizens worked side-by-
they can crawl. By the time they are full-grown soldiers, these slaves have come to regard the owning
family as their own. They will fight to the death to
side as near equals. This humane treatment, they
say, led to Yaramuke’s death, and Balic should
protect it, with little regard for their own safety.
learn from the mistakes of others.
Of course, such loyalty inspires mistrust in the
sorcerer-kings. To keep the armies of the nobility in
For all of the predictions of the doomsayers, Balic
thrives. Citizens and slaves work together in the ol-
check, many kings enlist half-giant troops to serve as
ive orchards and on the grain farms, harvesting the
a sort of royal guard. Few among the other races can
12
primary produce of the city. The nobles, called pat-
But the truth is there are other things to fear in Ba-
ricians, also put the slaves to work producing olive
lit, and those fears hang like dark clouds over the
oil and milling grain, or as shepherds watching over
the flocks of kitsus and other animals. Many artisan
city-state’s slave population.
Draj
slaves also work in the pottery shops, creating beautifully decorated pottery that sells throughout the
Tyr region.
This unprecedented level of cooperation between
The life of a slave in Draj is filled with fear and
terrible anticipation. The Mighty and Omnipotent
Tectuktitlay enjoys sending his city-state to war.
freeman and slave extends to the defense of Balic as
well. Because of its proximity to the Forked Tongue
These raids seem to have but one purpose—to procure prisoners to sacrifice upon the sorcerer-king’s
Estuary, this secluded city-state is safe from attack
great pyramid. As long as prisoners are plentiful,
by other city-states. However, its location makes it a
the slaves can relax and go about their business.
tempting target for raiding giants wading out of the
However, if the number of prisoners falls below the
sands. For this reason, all slaves and citizens are
members of the militia. The slaves receive more mili-
level Tectuktitlay deems acceptable for a day’s sacrifice, the balance is culled from the city’s slave popu-
tary training than their equivalents in other cities,
lation.
and they spend every tenth month alongside the regular army, patrolling the fields and scrublands in an
Draj makes use of slaves as soldiers, as gladiators
to fight in the great arena below the king’s pyramid,
and as laborers in the lush vegetation of the sur-
effort to reduce the frequency of giant raids.
Do not think that Balic is any less oppressive for
rounding mudflats. They also work to harvest hemp
all of its talk of owner-slave cooperation. While
physical punishments are frowned upon, they are
to make rope and clothing, and they labor in the
grain mills, for Dral maintains a brisk trade with the
not unknown in Balic. In fact, if a slave does some-
other city-states despite its warlike nature.
thing so terrible as to drive his master to reach for
the lash, then it is considered acceptable to whip the
A major slave occupation in Draj is brick making. Every day, work gangs are sent into the
slave nearly to death. Mostly, however, the owners
mudflats to collect mud, shape it into bricks, and
employ punishments designed to destroy the spirit
and break the will. Extended confinement in small,
carry the drying bricks back to the city. The mud
bricks dry quickly under the hot sun, baking into
dark pits is a particular favorite of the nobles, while
hard squares that can be used to construct new
templars enjoy adding small insects and reptiles to
keep the punished slave company.
buildings or to repair existing structures.
Gulg
In Balic, because slaves have the freedom to work
as they will and at their masters’ sides, the laws concerning their behavior are piled up like high walls
The forest city of Gulg treats slaves with an impersonal indifference that often leads to mistreat-
around them. A stray look, a slow bow, or even a
ment. Unlike other city-states where nobles employ
wrong step can be considered obstinate behavior
and can earn a slave time in a confinement pit. Be-
a good percentage of the slave population, Gulg
slaves are all owned by the city itself. The huge work
cause anything can be considered improper behav-
gangs, managed by templars and overseers, all fall
ior for a slave in Balic, fear and anxiety are constant
companions of every slave. To outsiders, Balic may
seem like a pleasant city where slaves are free to
into the category of farmer/laborer. Strict rules and
harsh punishments are the way of life for these
roam and work without fear of the overseer’s lash.
slaves.
13
Because of the city’s lush location, food and natukeeping their weapons close at hand. Even after
the gate was once again secured, the guards on
ral resources are plentiful—as long as someone goes
out to get it. The slaves make daily trips into the
forest to gather wild fruits, nuts, roots, and berries.
The nobles, who operate as hunters, fighters, and
the other side remained cautious and even a little
bit afraid. That made me feel much better than
my situation warranted.
scouts, bring in food in the form of fresh meat. All
food gathered by slaves and nobles becomes the
More days passed, and from my place in the
holding pen I watched as the village swelled with
slaves. They were brought in by wagon, in cara-
property of the oba, Gulg’s sorcerer-queen. She redistributes it to the citizens and slaves so that their
needs are met. If the slaves ever need to be disci-
vans, or marched in shackled one to another.
plined on a large scale, the oba simply refuses to
Soon the pens were filled and the slaves were put
give them a share of the food and water until the
lesson of obedience has been learned.
to work building more enclosures.
I learned that this village had been established
as a transfer and supply point for an upcoming
A Slave Revolt
slave market to be held in Urik. Too many slaves
The following story was told to me by an ex-slave
who was there. I will tell it to you as it was told to me,
in the ex-slave’s own words.
and not enough guards quickly combined to
make the merchants and their hired mercenaries
very, very nervous. This nervousness made the
slaves bolder than usual. Even I, a simple domestic slave who briefly lived in a free tribe, grew
I’d been captured again, after only a few
months of freedom. I was just getting used to living in a slave tribe when the slavers caught me. I
brave enough to heckle the guards and add to
their discomfort.
What happened on the day before the great
market has been blamed on Urik’s enemies.
cursed the hot sun for my bad luck and curled up
in a corner of the crowded slave wagon. This time
Some suggest that Tyr instigators infiltrated the
slave pens and sowed discontent. Others blame
one of the growing number of rebellious slave
I was certain that I would be returned to my owner in Draj and punished for my previous escape.
After two days in the moving slave wagon, how-
tribes operating outside of the cities. The truth,
ever, we finally reached our true destination.
I watched through a small crack in the wagon’s
wall as we entered a temporary village. I later
at least as far as I know it, is made up of unrelated circumstances instead of grand plots.
As the crowds of slaves grew and the guards
learned that the village was called Langu. It was a
became more tense in anticipation of
merchant settlement established outside the city-
something—anything—going wrong, nerves became frayed and everyone was on edge. The vil-
state of Urik. Through the crack I could see hundreds of people. There were merchants and
lage was a dry bush waiting for a spark to set it
aflame. I was assigned to a work detail on that
guards everywhere, but there were even more
slaves.
day, set to the task of building yet another hold-
The slavers who captured me halted their wagon right beside a large fence with a sturdy gate.
ing pen for the endless stream of slaves flooding
into the village. A young slave girl named Valuna
Guards forced me and my fellows out of the wag-
was carrying a water pouch to quench the thirst
on and into the holding pen. They seemed ner-
of the workers. A few of the slaves called to her,
making jokes that under other circumstances they
vous, these guards, always looking around and
14
would not have made. Turning this way and that,
The life of a Nibenay slave varies dramatically depending upon the part of the city in which he works
young Valuna did not notice the guard standing
with his back to her. She walked into him, spilling
and lives. In Nibenay proper, artists and artisan
water everywhere and frightening herself and the
slaves labor to decorate every building with stone re-
nervous guard.
liefs. These carvings range from highly realistic to
What happened next is a blur in my memories.
totally abstract to representations of rarely seen
I saw Valuna bump the guard. I watched as sparkling water sloshed into the air and rained to the
monsters. Those employed by the nobility tend to
the bubbling springs or the abundant rice fields.
ground. I gasped as the guard struck out with his
Even the free craftsmen use slaves to assist them
sword and Valuna’s blood mixed with the spilled
with their work, employing slaves to chop wood in
the Crescent Forest and to aid in shaping that wood
water in the sand. I screamed, and every slave in
sight joined in with screams of their own. Out-
into weapons for sale across the region.
raged at the unthinking act of violence and full of
In the walled sub-city of the sorcerer-king, the life
tension from days past, we attacked as one.
of a slave is rumored to be much harder and much
With bare hands and overwhelming numbers,
shorter. I say rumored, for few of the slaves called to
we fell upon the guard and tore him apart. His
labor in the inner city ever emerge from its dark confines. Within the sub-city, Nibenay (who named his
fellows tried to come to his aid, but the other
slaves rose up to help us. Soon some of us had
city-state after himself) supposedly keeps a multi-
weapons, taken from the fallen guards, and we
pushed on through the village. In what seemed
tude of slaves busy administering to the needs o f
himself and his templars. All of Nibenay’s tem-
like the blink of an eye we overthrew the inade-
plars, by the way, are women, and some say they all
qua tely small amount of guards and disappeared
in to the wilderness.
share the duties and station of wives to the sorcererking. Scores of domestic servants and concubines
wait hand and foot upon the king and his templar
I was free again, and I vowed that I would never
again let myself get captured by slavers or herded
into a pen like a frightened animal. And I’ll nev-
court, while an equal number of laborers work to
build and maintain the structures within the sub-
er forget the sight of poor Valuna’s blood drench-
city.
ing into the hot sand.
Also at work within the walled sub-city are scores
of artisan slaves. It is said (though no freeman has
ever personally seen it) that Nibenay’s palace re-
Citizens of Urik, of course, tell the tale somewhat
sembles the Shadow King’s head. Rumors abound
that these craftsmen constantly sculpt and carve im-
differently, and I have heard many variations.
Langu remains typical of recent slave revolts,
though, regardless of which version of the tale you
ages of the templars into the palace-sculpture’s hair.
More recently, rumors have circulated that the
Shadow King has established a university within the
want to believe. Most slave revolts are nothing more
than spontaneous actions that lead to either freedom or death for the slaves involved. Grand plots
walled sub-city and stocked it with scholar slaves.
What project these slaves are working on is unknown, but some say it has to do with ancient writ-
and insidious subterfuge make great stories, but
they are rarely the stuff of reality.
ings found in ruins deep within the Crescent Forest.
Nibenay slaves dread the inevitable day when
they know they will be called into the sub-city, for
15
none of their fellows so called ever returned. Even if
herd animals wander away, food becomes scarcer
life within the Shadow King’s inner sanctum was
and scarcer. The slaves receive the least share of
nothing but pampered luxury for the slaves, the fact
that every task ends in death darkens the mood o f
what remains, and punishments become more frequent and much more brutal.
potential servants.
Tyr
Nibenay slaves also serve as soldiers in the regular
army. Constant conflicts with Gulg and oft-
Strange rumors have come to me concerning the
current situation in the city-state of Tyr. Once this
occurring civil disturbances within the city require
large numbers of able fighters to maintain the
Shadow King’s interests.
city-state used hundreds of slaves to pull iron from
the nearby mines. More recently, the slaves were diverted to the task of completing a mighty ziggurat
Raam
A sorcerer-queen, Abalach-Re, presides over the
rising high over the city. Now, at least as I have
come to understand it, the terrible sorcerer-king Ka-
city-state of Raam. She is a paranoid monarch, as
lak has been killed and a new king has taken over
fearful of her own citizens as she is of the other citystates. This paranoia ripples from the highest seats
from among the ranks of the templars.
The stories that have come to me from Tyr have
of power down to the lowliest slaves, causing chaotic
been confusing at best, and I feel that they simply
reflect the confused and chaotic state that exists
within the city. The one tale that intrigues me the
winds to whip through society like a sand storm
through the desert. In this chaos of frightened templars, raiding nobles, and angry citizens, it is the
most is the story that slavery has been abolished in
slave population that suffers the brunt of the nearanarchy.
Tyr. At least two different merchant caravans related this story to me, each attesting that the slaves
of Tyr are now free.
A slave exists in Raam only as long as he or she is
What does this mean to other slaves and ex-slaves
throughout the Tyr region? I have no idea. Perhaps
useful. Because of the prevalent chaos and poor organization, it falls to the slaves themselves to find
useful work to occupy their time. The moment a
the situation will be short lived. While I hope other-
slave appears idle, he is sent to the arena to entertain the crowds. As most of these slaves have no
wise, I cannot see the other templars and nobles going along with this new king who sets their slaves
combat training or experience, the entertainment is
free. While I shall endeavor to discover more about
short-lived at best.
Raam appears as a city on the verge of collapse.
events in Tyr, I must caution that chaotic situations
tend to be the most dangerous situations in Athas.
Its sorcerer-queen locks herself away within her pal-
Even if the slaves are free today in Tyr, tomorrow
ace’s ivory walls, hidden deep behind defensive
breastworks and ditches. Her templars refuse to
they may once again be enthralled. After all, if
someone was able to kill the terrible Kalak (and ru-
walk the streets for fear of finding an assassin’s dag-
mors persist that he was killed by a gladiator!), then
ger waiting for them. The nobles behave as raiding
tribes, fighting among themselves and against the
someone can just as easily kill this new king who
seems to be a friend of slaves.
templars. Even the merchant houses find themselves
Urik
caught up in the paranoia and chaos, hiring large
bands of mercenaries to protect their goods.
Urik and its king, Hamanu, have created a city of
This lack of stability and leadership hurts the
contrasts as far as the slave population is concerned.
slaves most of all. As the fields lie untended and the
16
On one hand, the worst task a slave can ever imag-
business in peace. But one transgression, one single
ine being assigned to is the obsidian quarries of the
disregard for the strict and unforgiving code, and
Mountain of the Black Crown. On the other hand,
Hamanu’s armies constantly set the slaves of his en-
you will find yourself among the slaves in the obsidian quarries.
emies free. Such contrasts are maddening, but they
Few servile duties compare to the terrible condi-
make perfect sense to Hamanu.
Actually, Urik’s slaves are among the best treated
tions existing in the quarries of black glass. Like the
miners of Tyr, the quarry slaves are worked from
and most loyal of any I have met in the Tyr region.
dawn to dusk without rest. Each has a quota of
All of the usual servile duties can be found in Urik,
but the city-state’s warlike ways bring many slaves
stone to meet, and those who fail to hew enough of
the material from the pits undergo excruciating
into military service. Slaves make up a large portion
punishments. Urik’s economy depends upon the
of Hamanu’s army. Military slaves serve as officers’
assistants, shield bearers, weapon carriers, grooms,
and even soldiers, fighting side-by-side with citizens
precious stone, and laziness among the quarry
slaves is never tolerated.
The troubles in Tyr have caused conditions in the
and Urik’s more interesting combat units—halfgiant clubbers and a company of halfling rangers.
quarries to worsen. Without the iron from Tyr to
make proper tools, the quarry slaves are forced to
Of course, there are the negative aspects of life in
dig for the glassy rock with inferior tools and even
Urik that both slave and freeman must be aware of.
Hamanu’s laws must be obeyed to the letter; as long
with their bare hands, giving the black rock a slick
coating of blood along its sharp edges.
as a person keeps these laws he can go about his
17
Slaves in the Villages
How Did Slavery Start?
Villages dot the open spaces between the citystates, but few of them are more than temporary
Sometime in the past, the sorcerer-kings first
raised armies against each other and went to war,
shelters from the wilderness. Every day, one or more
As few historical documents exist (at least that I am
of these tiny communities falls to raiders, natural disasters, or the dragon. Because of this, any discus-
aware of), the past lives only in stories, legends and
the memories of the sorcerer-kings. These stories
sion of village slaves must be handled in general
provide few details, and many change from one tell-
terms, for the specific conditions change with the
wind.
ing to the next. One story remains fairly constant,
however, and its telling has sent many off to sleep
Client villages often mirror the attitudes and
after a night around the slave fires.
The story concerns the citizens of one city-state
and how they were taken prisoner by the soldiers of
practices of their city-states. However, life in the wilderness can lead to more extreme behavior, as far as
slaves are concerned. Some receive almost equal sta-
another. These prisoners of war expected to be tor-
tus with their masters, as the cooperation such treatment brings is invaluable far from the walls and
tured and eventually killed by their captors, as was
the practice of the day. But the hero of the story, a
armies of the sorcerer-kings. Some masters view
prisoner named Ragoner, engaged his sorcerer-king
captor in conversation for a day and a night.
conditions in the villages as open invitations to treat
their slaves with hardened hearts and stinging
Throughout the discussion, Ragoner convinced the
sorcerer-king that there was a better use for his pris-
whips, hoping that stern authority will keep the
thralls in line.
oners than simple slaughter. He described the types
of tasks he and his fellow prisoners could perform,
from the mundane to the difficult to the dangerous,
No matter what attitude toward slaves sways a
specific village, rarely are slaves kept in large num-
leaving the sorcerer-king and his people time for
more important endeavors.
bers so far from the centers of civilization. Large
numbers of slaves can be difficult to handle, requiring more overseers and guards than a typical village
The sorcerer-king (who takes the form of the ruler
can employ. Slaves also make tempting targets for
the various raiding parties that can sweep out of the
of whichever city the story is being told in) contemplated Ragoner’s words for another day and night.
desert without warning. Finally, most slave rebel-
As he considered, the prisoners of war remained
lions have taken place within villages. No village can
close its borders as effectively as a city, and slaves see
alive. Finally, the king appeared and called Ragoner
and the other prisoners forward. With great fan-
their best chance at freedom occurring while on a
fare, the king declared that from that moment on all
village work detail.
Other types of villages treat slaves according to
prisoners, criminals, misplaced foreigners, vagrants,
and debtors would serve useful purposes instead of
their purposes. Some have no slaves at all; a few are
meeting quick deaths. These prisoners would be-
made up entirely of escaped slaves. Some villages
are nothing more than armed camps, temporary ba-
come slaves and would labor for the benefit of
freemen everywhere. Thus did slavery begin and the
ses along a slave gang’s supply line. These types of
slaughter of prisoners came to an end.
Or so the story goes.
I have found that all stories and legends have
villages treat slaves harshly and keep a constant vigil
over them.
some basis in truth, and the tale of Ragoner is no
18
exception. We know through tales of the ancients
strength, but to the strength of mind and spirit.
that once, all prisoners were executed. One day, so
Those of strong mind and spirit are naturally born
long ago that no one alive remembers when (except
perhaps the sorcerer-kings), the concept of slavery
wielding psionics have. Those of the body, whose
was introduced and the needless slaughter ceased.
strength is measured not by psionics but by sinew
As time went by, the practice of taking and keeping
slaves developed into the sophisticated system of
and bone, naturally become slaves.
However the practice of slavery began, it has be-
master and servant operating on Athas today.
come an integral part of life on our brutal, unforgiving world. In many ways the system provides for the
otherwise hopeless masses, granting them meaning-
to be masters, as evidenced by the advantages those
Now the entire basis of Athas’s economic and social order is built upon slavery. Servile stock still
comes partly from captured prisoners, but more of-
ful tasks, clear purposes, shelter, and food where
ten it is raised on slave farms and purchased at slave
there might otherwise be none. I wonder, if the foun-
markets. Laws govern the sale of slaves, from guar-
dation of slavery were ever pulled away, would the
a n t e e s c o n c e r n i n g h i d d e n i m p e r f e c t i o n s t o the
society above it collapse into the sand, never to be
length of servitude for those sold to pay off debts or
seen again?
as punishment for some crime.
Countless templars and nobles have justified the
Why Is Slavery Necessary?
practice through philosophical arguments. In the
Some regard slavery as the natural order, that the
natural order, these great thinkers declare, the
keeping of slaves by freemen is good and right.
weaker naturally become subservient to the stronger.
Slaves are necessary instruments for the handling of
Weaker, in this argument, does not point to physical
19
dull and heavy tasks. Without slaves, the natural
superiors in society would not be free to pursue
greater leisure and other endeavors.
Others see slavery as a means to an end. In this
case, the end is the continuation of civilization upon
our harsh, cruel world. Without slaves, these philosophers reason, all life would be reduced to a constant struggle against the environment. As long as
the system of slavery exists, slaves remain the buffer
between civilization and barbarity. In this view, the
ends definitely justify the means.
A growing minority sees slavery as an outdated
practice that keeps one level of society fat and content at the expense of another. In this view, civilization is held down by the weight of slavery, and it will
not reach its heights until the weight is cut loose.
My own view, for what it is worth, falls somewhere
in between. Our world, for better or for worse, has
been built upon the foundation of the slave system.
The leisure and advances of the upper classes, the
great cities and their monuments, even life itself,
rests upon the forced labor of the multitude. Life on
Athas is not bought lightly, but with the sweat and
blood of hard, hard work. I see a day when we buy
our freedom with hard work, but others see a day
when freedom is purchased with rebellion. But such
a rebellion requires radical change, and I do not believe Athas can survive a rapid change that cuts out
the foundation of society.
Some say that slave and freeman are in constant
opposition to each other, that what is won by one is lost
by other. I say this is wrong. Slave and freeman are
struggling not with each other, but with Athas itself,
for the world gives up its gifts reluctantly.
Why is slavery necessary? It is true that only
through the efforts of society as a whole—both freeman and slave—can the races hope to survive upon
this dying world. But would not slaves work for survival even harder if they were freed? I long for the
day when we can eliminate this immoral and evil
practice of keeping slaves. Then all freemen can
struggle toward a good life for everyone on Athas.
20
Once you leave the safe, civilized confines of a
city-state, the vast wilderness of Athas stretches be-
tribes scattered throughout the desert. Some tribes
fore you. Out there, beyond the solid walls and pro-
travel together from oasis to oasis. Others grow
large and establish villages to protect themselves. I
are nothing more than small groups of nomads who
tective gates, the burning sands await. The real
Athas is out there—bleak, barren, and full of stark,
have visited many slave tribes in my travels. Some of
deadly beauty. It waits patiently beneath the hot
sun, ready to reveal itself to any who dare wander
these tribes are still intact and operating outside the
influence of the city-states. Many more have ceased
from civilization’s small, fragile shore. Its revela-
to be, either swallowed by the sands, slaughtered by
tions, however, are both wondrous and terrible to
behold, and few survive even a brief glimpse un-
vengeful owners, or destroyed by their own inner
conflicts.
scathed. The wilderness of Athas changes those
The tribes included in this chronicle have been
who travel its unmarked paths. Those who respect
it, fear it, even admire it, can find sustenance in the
selected to demonstrate a variety of slave communities. While all of the tribes have the goals of surviv-
most remote places. Those who seek to challenge
al, prosperity, and continued freedom in common,
the wildness, to bend nature to their own will, find
that Athas is a stubborn, unrelenting opponent.
they do not all strive to achieve these goals in the
same manner. While you will find the differences be-
The trick to surviving is to use what Athas gives
tween the tribes fascinating and informative, be
you to your best advantage. The slave tribes have
learned this lesson well. The most important gift the
watchful for the similarities. For in the similarities
lies the key to every tribe’s ultimate survival.
wilderness provides is protection from those who
Almost without exception, slave tribe leaders tend
would hunt down the escaped slaves and take away
their hard-fought freedom. The forlorn and deso-
to be of military orientation. Soldiers and gladiators
offer protection and order, so other types of slaves
late regions of Athas provide hiding places, secure
naturally rally around the more exceptional mem-
shelters, and natural defenses against the slave
tribes’ many enemies. No matter what resources the
bers of these classes.
Wizards and templars—even those who fell into
wilderness stubbornly refuses to make available, it
slavery—never rise to positions of leadership in these
does give the slaves who come to it the thing they
need most—a chance.
communities. To the slaves, these classes represent
the most evil aspects of Athas. Every wizard is a po-
Slaves labor for their masters in the cities and vil-
tential sorcerer-king in a slave’s mind, and every
lages of Athas. They live, they work, and they die.
That is the cycle of life for slaves. There is another
templar is a reminder of life in servitude. This is not
possible step in the cycle, however, that slaves hope
The protection and other services they can provide
for and masters dread. There is escape. Slaves have
been escaping from bondage for centuries. To a
make wizards tolerated, if not welcomed, in slave
communities. Of course, a tribe or village normally
slave, escape means freedom. If he dies in the at-
allows only one type of wizard to wield his arcane
tempt, he is free. If he gets away without being
killed, he turns to the wilderness to put distance be-
arts for it. Rarely will you find both a preserver and
tween himself and those who would again enslave
‘approaches to magic put them at odds with each
him. Either way, he is free.
Escaped slaves inevitably find other escaped
other and disrupt the community’s peace.
Ex-slaves exist in a state of blissful happiness, for
slaves hiding in the desert. To survive, these groups
they are truly thankful to be free. However, they also
of ex-slaves form tribes. There are hundreds of slave
remain ever watchful for those who would take away
to say that wizards have no place in the slave tribes.
a defiler in a slave tribe, for their radically different
21
their freedom. To this end, most ex-slaves live from
does not threaten their own freedom. They are a
moment to moment, enjoying what time they have in
wild bunch, but they refrain from acts of true evil.
freedom’s embrace. Every Slave knows all too well
what life is like in shackles, and they understand
From the tales I have heard, the Free attack only
those who keep slaves—merchant caravans, slaver
that freedom is a fragile thing that could evaporate
wagons, client villages, and even the cultivated fields
with the rising sun.
I understand these things as well, for I count my-
story of the Free plundering from another slave tribe
self among their number. For that reason, take what
or a village that does not keep slaves.
is presented for what it is—a chronicle about exslaves written by an ex-slave.
The tribe contains over 500 members, who live together in a fortified village far from other settle-
around the city-states. There has not been a single
ments. They believe that the good of the group is
The Free
paramount over all other concerns. All members
share equally in supplies, and any slaves freed by
their raiding parties are invited to join, if they so
The first tribe I wish to chronicle has, in its short
period of existence, become a matter of legend.
desire.
The tribesfolk see themselves engaged in a war to
Slaves everywhere whisper the name of the Free in
reverent tones once lavished upon the sorcerer-
keep the freedom they have worked hard to pre-
kings. Every day the legend spreads and the tales
serve. Anyone who threatens that freedom is considered an enemy of the tribe. Slaves, as prisoners of
grow taller with each retelling. That is the nature of
legends.
the enemy, are considered allies to be helped, if such
help does not put the tribe at risk.
I have heard old house servants tell young play
slaves that someday the Free will come to take them
away. On that day, the old servants said, the slaves
Organization
would be carried away in a huge caravan of goldcovered metal wagons. No master could hurt the
slaves in the wagons, not only because of the metal
Bartras, an ex-soldier slave, leads the Free. He
considers the post a temporary evil, for no slave
but because of the great speed at which the caravan
should be placed above another. He promises to
moves. The caravan’s destination is a city-state that
has no masters, where every slave is free.
abolish his position once all slaves are free. As leader, Bartras has reluctantly organized the tribe along
The legend sounds so wonderful that I am reluc-
military lines, recognizing that the struggle to re-
tant to spoil it with truth, but spoil it I must. Someday the Free may come to liberate those old servants
main free is a war between masters and slaves. Eight
generals serve as his council of war. These men and
and young play slaves, but more likely the stories will
women have been selected from all classes and races
enable the slaves to free themselves.
The truth is that the Free is the same as a hun-
of slaves to offer advice and to keep Bartras informed of events within their spheres of influence.
dred similar raiding tribes operating in the Atha-
Below the generals, a major presides over the
sian wilderness. Yes, they sometimes help slaves
escape to freedom, but only as an afterthought. The
Hidden Village. In addition to administering to the
village’s daily needs of decision making and dispute
city-state spoken of in legends, where every slave
settling, the major oversees the village’s defenses
lives free, is nothing more than a fortified village
hidden within a deep crater.
and assigns work details to maintain and expand the
The Free believe that all slaves deserve to live in
settlement as needed.
Raiding parties are led by captains and consist of
freedom. They follow this credo as long as doing so
as few as six members or as many as several hun-
22
dred, depending on the target of the raid.
Operations and Means of Existence
Everything the Free does revolves around maintaining freedom. They engage in raids to procure
supplies, free slaves to swell their ranks, and attack
client villages to strike back in some way at the masters who once held them in shackles. These raids are
usually aimed at slave-keeping facilities: merchant
house outposts or caravans, city-state work details,
or client villages. In addition to gaining needed supplies, the raiders also seek to free any slaves they
encounter while on such missions, as long as doing
so does not put their own members at risk.
The Hidden Village maintains small herds of
carru and tends an oasis. What it cannot make for
itself or acquire through raids, the village obtains by
trading with other communities. It sends out caravans belonging to fictitious merchant houses to engage in trade with legitimate villages and outposts.
While planning a raid, the tribe watches for opportunities to free slaves. This may be as simple as
sneaking into a work detail and persuading the
slaves to revolt, thus providing a diversion under
which to launch a raid. However, it may be as difficult as actually setting an ambush and overpowering
guards. If a raid goes as planned, then any slaves
attached to the plundered area are released.
Many circumstances can arise to cut short the
slaves’ new-found freedom. The slaves may refuse
to cooperate with the raiders; they may be afraid to
leave their familiar surroundings for the unknown
desert. Even if they do follow the Free, weariness,
fear, or lack of supplies may later turn the slaves
against their saviors. The raiders will at the very
least provide what food and water they can spare
and give the freed slaves directions to a safe location, such as an oasis. If the slaves are cooperative,
they may be offered a chance to join the Free.
23
to his patrician why he had failed to protect the no-
Origin
ble’s son, or he could walk away into the desert and
Bartras grew up as a play slave in the house of a
Balic patrician. The slave child learned much at the
disappear. Either choice seemed to end in death, as
far as the young man could see, but at least in the
side of his master/playmate, participating in almost
desert he could die free. Bartras struck out into the
all of the lessons assigned to the patrician’s son.
When Bartras was nine years old, it was decided
wastes.
In the desert, death did not find the ex-slave. In-
that he would serve as a soldier slave in the patri-
stead, he wandered alone and soon discovered that
cian’s personal army. He was given over to the patrician’s sergeant-at-arms to begin his military
the hollow feeling within him had been filled. It was
freedom that he had craved, and now that he could
training. Bartras excelled at armed and unarmed
go where he chose to go, do what he wanted to do,
combat, easily besting larger, stronger foes. He
he felt almost complete. In the desert, it was more
than just his body that Bartras let wander. He also
gained an appreciation for strategy and planning,
paying extra attention to lessons concerning military
freed his mind, letting it explore inner thoughts that
tactics.
he once shied away from. He realized that freedom
was a constant battle, waged against the masters of
As Bartras came of age, he took his place among
the best and highest ranking soldier slaves in his
Athas who took pleasure in enslaving the masses.
patrician’s militia. B u t B a r t r a s w a s n o t c o n t e n t .
Why should slaves have to settle at best for near-
It took several years, but he eventually gathered
enough followers (every one of them an escaped
equality and at worst for status as property to be
slave) to start his own tribe. The Free was born in
used and abused as an owner pleased? There had to
be more for Bartras, and for slaves throughout
the heat of the desert, and it quickly blossomed in a
shower of raids against slave holders everywhere.
Athas. Something was missing, and the hole it left
within the young soldier slave burned like his throat
did when he was thirsty.
Location and Defenses
Years went by, and Bartras served the patrician’s
The Hidden Village lies at the bottom of a crater
family well. His undefined desires never interfered
with his duties or his loyalty. They just left him feel-
within the foothills above the Great Alluvial Sand
Wastes, lost somewhere between Tyr and Urik in
the shadow of the Ringing Mountains. I cannot be
ing hollow and incomplete.
more specific than that, for I have pledged to keep
Disaster struck while Bartras was accompanying
his one-time playmate into the patrician’s fields out-
every tribe I write about as protected as I can.
Its hidden location and the surrounding country-
side of Balic’s protective walls. The noble’s son was
side offer the village much protection, but the village
making a routine check of his family’s holdings, and
Bartras and his soldier slaves were along to protect
is not without its own defenses. Every member of the
tribe, from the young to the old, takes part in exer-
him. The raiders struck without warning, ambush-
cises designed to teach the ex-slaves to work together
ing the small party as it traveled the path toward the
olive orchards. When the painfully quick skirmish
for the common defense. Specific locations and fortifications are under the command of experienced
ended, the soldiers and the noble’s son were dead.
military personnel, either ex-soldiers or gladiators,
Bartras alone survived, though unconsciousness
and bloody wounds made the raiders believe that he
also was dead.
who direct the non-military-oriented members of the
community in matters of defense.
Bartras had a choice to make when he regained
consciousness. He could return to Balic and explain
for miles around, serving as first-line defenders (with
Scouts from the village constantly roam the land
24
orders to act only against small groups) and to
ers get this close to the village, they will find them-
sound the alarm should danger approach too
selves facing concentrated attacks from the
closely.
In addition to the crater itself, with its natural wall
defenders’ higher positions.
The Hidden Village is a thriving community of
that rises some 30 feet over the crater floor, a sturdy
ex-slaves working together to create a home. The
brick wall surrounds the village, rising to a height of
ten feet and mounted with battlements to protect the
building the village is proudest of is the Free Arena.
Modelled after the gladiatorial arenas of the city-
defenders. Gates in the wall can be closed and
states but constructed on a much smaller scale, the
barred. Within the walls, the village has been de-
Free Arena is an open-air amphitheater in which
tribe members can gather to discuss important top-
signed to offer fall back positions and hiding places
for the defenders, while frustrating any attackers
ics and reach group decisions. While Bartras and
his generals are not yet ready to give up their positions as leaders of the community, they have none-
with its maze of low walls and ambush vantage
points. If attackers do manage to break through the
walls, they will have to fight for every foot of ground
theless begun to turn some community decisions
they gain once inside.
The village itself is built upon a raised platform of
over to the Arena.
baked mud, making attacks against it very difficult.
In the Arena, anyone who wants to voice an opinion can do so without fear of reprisal or retribution.
Not only must attackers drop down into the deep
crater or navigate the narrow ramp that is the sole
Issues can be debated, and everyone participates in
the decision-making process.
accessway, but once at the bottom they face the
The village also boasts a respectable barter mar-
raised platform and the village walls. If any attack-
ket where members of the community trade their
25
26
skills and wares, a large artisan section full of all
kinds of craft shops and studios, and a growing resi-
8. Grazing Fields: This stretch of grass, sustained by the oasis, provides nourishment for the
dential section where the children of the Free can
grow up to be whatever they choose—with or with-
village’s herd animals.
out the permission of owners or the sorcerer-kings.
Relations with Others
The Hidden Village
The Free trade with almost anyone. The community routinely sends caravans to villages and out-
Map Key
posts. These caravans pretend to be from some
The following key describes the map of the
far-away or non-existent merchant house. Other
than this bit of deception, they trade fairly, making
Hidden Village.
shrewd deals and cutting tough bargains with the
1. Crater Wall Ramp: This narrow ramp made
best merchants and traders in Athas.
The only folk the Free refuse to deal with fairly are
of sun-baked mud provides access to the crater in
which the Free have constructed their village.
those who regularly engage in slave trade or who
2. The Main Gate: A narrow ramp leads up to
work directly for the sorcerer-kings. The Free might
visit such an outpost or merchant camp in the dead
the village, which has been built upon a platform
of sun-baked mud. The gate opens upon the village proper and faces the Free Arena.
of night to spirit away slaves, but they will never even
pretend to conduct business with such groups. Of
course, they avoid the city-states as much as possi-
3. The Free Arena: This amphitheater, mod-
ble, with the rare exception of conducting a raid on
elled after the gladiatorial arenas of the citystates, serves as a meeting hall and gathering
the surrounding fields.
center where news can be shared and community
Joining the Tribe
matters can be debated and decided upon.
As with most slave tribes, only ex-slaves may apply for membership with the Free. All races and
4. The Corridor of Gates: A narrow corridor
divided by three gates separates the main village
most classes are welcome, as long as the applicant
from the herd pen. These gates can be sealed to
protect the village from invaders.
can prove he was a slave. Proving servitude can be
difficult, especially for those slaves from households
5. The Herd Pen: Herds of carru and a few
that do not use branding. When physical proof can-
flocks of kitsus are kept in this part of the village.
The animals are permitted to graze in the brush
not be offered, the Free look to attitude, skills, origin
to determine the applicant’s worthiness. If the slave
surrounding the oasis every day, coming and go-
in question was freed as part of a raid by the tribe,
ing by the herd gate.
6. The Herd Gate: A narrow ramp and a stur-
he has the best chance of being accepted. Defilers
are the main exception to the Free’s welcoming atti-
dy gate provide access from the herd pen to the
tude. No wizard who practices the defiling arts is
surrounding grazing fields.
welcome among the Free.
Still, desire to join and status as a slave does not
7. The Oasis: This oasis provides water for the
guarantee full tribal rights. A period of initiation
entire village.
must be undertaken, lasting no less than three
27
ing, charismatic orations, and his hands-on ap-
months and no more than a year. During this period, the applicant is assigned to a raiding team. He
proach to tackling problems. With the help of his
must demonstrate his thirst for and love of freedom
by helping the tribe wage its war against owners and
wild talent, Bartras can easily distract caravan
guards so that a raid can go off without a hitch. He
by freeing other slaves when the opportunity
loves freedom and wishes to see all slaves free. Every
presents itself. If he can perform some special service or heroic feat while undergoing his initiation, he
group of raiders from his tribe has standing orders
to set slaves free as long as doing so does not endan-
assures his selection as a member of the tribe.
ger the welfare of the tribe.
Any member who acts against the tribe or who
fails to prove himself during initiation is put to
Drog
death, for the location of the Hidden Village is too
Dwarf Fighter, Lawful Neutral
important to entrust to those cast out from the tribe.
Armor Class 6 (mekillot hide)
Important Tribe Members
Bartras
Human Fighter, Chaotic Good
Armor Class 5 (kank armor)
Movement 12
Str 15
Dex 14
Level 8
C o n 15
Hit Points 52
THAC0 13
Int 1 3
W i s 12
No. of Attacks 3/2
C h a 15
Str 16
Movement 6
Dex 14
Level 6
Hit Points 42
Con 17
Int 13
Wis 14
THAC0 15
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 11
Damage/Attack: 1d8 (stone battle axe, -2 to attack roll)
Drog, a dwarf who once served as a soldier slave
in Tyr, serves as the major (the governor) of the Hidden Village. He is a strict but fair administrator
with a knack for bureaucratic routine. Under his
Damage/Attack: 1d8-1 (stone long sword)
care, the settlement has grown from a tiny camp at
Psionic Summary: PSP 44; Wild Talent—
Daydream (PS Wis; Cost—Contact + 3/round)
the bottom of a huge crater to a thriving village. He
is constantly evaluating his actions to make sure he
is not imitating the methods of the masters in the
Bartras, a human fighter, served as a play slave to
a noble’s son and then as a soldier slave in the no-
city-states.
Drog definitely does not like the position he has
ble’s militia before he found his freedom. He has
been placed in, but he understands why he was cho-
spent his time as an ex-slave establishing the tribe
sen. He was one of Bartras’s first followers, and he
has an eye for detail that makes him a natural ad-
called the Free.
As leader of the Free, Bartras employs his fol-
ministrator. However, he believes that the position
lowers as soldiers in a war against slave owners. He
sees the struggle to remain free and to live in the
stinks of owner, or worse, of templar, and he longs
for the day when Bartras abolishes all positions of
wilderness away from the city-states as a war against
command. Of course, total freedom scares him as
both nature and the owners. Each successful raid
provides another day of freedom and thus is consid-
well. It frightens his lawful, ordered tendencies with
visions of uncontrolled chaos. Sometimes he won-
ered a small victory in his ongoing war.
ders if that is what they are striving for. Then he
His ability to lead comes from his military train-
28
remembers his time as a slave, and such thoughts
flee before his own desire to remain free.
and no other survival skills worth mentioning, the
tribe has come up with another way to survive.
Selanu
Tenpug’s Band sends its members to small villages and caravan camps where they masquerade as
Human Thief, Chaotic Neutral
freemen and sell their services. They take on work
Str 16
repairing wagons and tools, entertaining with stories, and even producing works of art if anyone is
Movement 12
Dex 18
interesting in such things. The wages these
Level 5
Hit Points 23
Con 14
Int 10
“freemen” earn is brought back to the tribe for distribution to all.
THAC0 16
Wis 14
About 200 artist and artisan slaves make up Ten-
A rmor Class 4 (carru leather)
No. of Attacks 1
pug’s Band. Of these, only a dozen are skilled with
Cha 3
weapons.
Damage/Attack: 1d6 (bone club, -1 to attack
roll)
Organization
Psionic Summary: PSP 34; Wild Talent—Graft
Tenpug’s Band has a very loose structure. The
leader of the tribe is a one-armed mul named Ten-
Weapon (PS Con-s; Cost—10 + 1/round)
pug whose experience as a gladiator (before he lost
his arm) made him a natural leader. It was his idea
Selanu once served as an artist slave in the tem-
to survive by selling talents instead of raiding. He
plar court of Balic. Her specialty had been bone
continues to lead and make the final decisions con-
carving, but she developed a few additional skills to
cerning the welfare of the tribe.
help her get around the court unseen. Her fledgling
thieving talents found full expression under the tute-
The other positions of note are the keeper of the
wages and the keeper of supplies. These two tribe
lage of another artist slave who once made a living
as a rogue (before his talents earned him a place as
a slave).
members work together to use the money brought in
to purchase the supplies the tribe needs to survive.
As this is the primary means for the tribe to get food
After gaining her freedom due to the efforts of the
Free, Selanu asked to join the tribe. She now puts
and water, these positions are very important.
There are other important members of the tribe
her talents to work as a raider and as a thief when
who constantly confer with Tenpug, but there is no
strict hierarchy of ranks or stations. If someone has
she is assigned to a trade caravan. She enjoys stealing additional goods and ceramic pieces while wan-
an idea, he presents it to the tribe. If the tribe likes
dering a village in the guise of a merchant from
the idea, it is used. If the tribe does not like it, it is
some fictitious house on the other side of the Tyr
shelved.
region.
Operations and Means of Existence
Tenpug’s Band
Tenpug’s Band assigns every member of the tribe
One of the more unusual and creative slave tribes
a number of one-week periods to earn wages during
I have heard of is a small group called Tenpug’s
the coming year. When a member’s time arrives,
that member must leave the camp and head for a
Band. The tribe is made up of artist and artisan
slaves who have put their collective talents to good
village or caravan camp. Pretending to be a free-
use. As they have few skilled warriors among them,
29
man, the tribe member offers his particular talents
the desert. “You are free men now,” Gralth told
for sale. He remains with the village or camp for as
them, “For the warriors of Gulg have broken the
long as there is wage-paying work to be had or until
his week (15 days) is up. Then he gathers his earn-
bonds that held you.’’
The slaves all began to talk at once, asking ques-
ings and returns to the tribe until his turn again
tions and seeking to postpone the inevitable. Finally,
comes up.
Sometimes a tribe member is sent out with a sack
Tenpug asked, “How can we survive without our
masters? What can we do?’’
Angry, Gralth turned on the mul with a snarl.
full of finely crafted pottery or some other goods
made by the tribe. In addition to offering his talents
For a moment, he looked more like a gladiator than
a weaponsmith. “You can do what you’ve always
for sale, the tribe member seeks buyers for the goods
he carries.
done!’’ Gralth shouted. “You each have skills that
The tribe never sends out more than half of its
number at any given time. The rest remain behind
most freemen would die for. Combine your talents,
pool your resources, and sell them to the highest
to protect the camp, make goods to sell, or repair
bidder! But don’t do it like slaves. Do it like free
tents and tools. Whenever necessary, the tribe sends
merchants.’’
Gralth and Tenpug talked through the night, set-
out a small caravan to purchase supplies. They use
at least three different nearby settlements for this
purpose, never going to the same one twice in a row.
Again, the caravan pretends to be from a freemen
ting forth the ideas that would be used by these exslaves to survive. When they finished talking, the
dwarf bid them farewell and turned back toward
village that needs to supplement its own stocks by
Nibenay. When Tenpug asked where he was going,
purchasing supplies.
Gralth said that he still had a focus to finish. He did
not want to end up wandering the wastes as a ban-
Origin
shee after he died. That was the last time any of
them ever saw the old dwarf.
Eventually, the band found a secure spot to set up
Tenpug’s Band started as a small group of traveling craftsmen who earned food, water, and shelter
a permanent camp. Once they no longer had to
by performing small tasks for their hosts. The first
move from place to place, the band could concentrate on finding work and making money.
members were all artisan slaves from Nibenay. The
story, at least the way I heard it, went like this.
During a particularly hard time in Nibenay, slaves
Location and Defenses
from all classes were forced into labor details to gather
wood from the Crescent Forest. One detail was made
Tenpug’s Band has established a camp within the
up of artisan slaves, including the one-armed mul
half-buried ruins of an ancient temple. The temple
named Tenpug. After a hard day of work, the slaves
finished loading up their carts with wood and made
is located some 50 miles northeast of Nibenay, near
the shore of the Sea of Silt. The blowing sand has
ready to return to the city. They were barely on the
covered much of the ruins, offering protection from
path back when warriors from Gulg ambushed their
small party. The warriors killed the guards and scat-
passing travelers. The fearsome statues that protect
the temple entrance serve to frighten away all but
tered the frightened slaves.
the most desperate or ruthless raiders. Those who
Old Gralth for guidance. The ancient dwarf, who
do try to force their way in can usually be scared off
by a few blasts from the ghost horns. (These instru-
had slaved away for Nibenay longer than any of the
ments were specially made by Tenpug’s craftsmen to
other slaves could remember, told them to run into
produce eerie, otherworldly noises.)
The slaves gathered in the forest and looked to
30
Tenpug’s Camp
The partially buried temple is built on a massive
scale, as though the original occupants were giants.
The ceilings are 40 feet high, and the entire structure is made from fitted stones. It must be from the
Map Key
time of the ancients, but no spirits walk its huge
The following key describes the map of Ten-
halls.
Within the abandoned temple, which has been
pug’s camp.
remarkably well preserved, the band has set up tents
1. The Temple Entrance: Huge stone steps
between massive pillars that are as large as trees
from the Crescent Forest. Few items have been
and giant stone doors lead into the half-buried
temple. Great stone statues guard each side of
found within the temple, and Tenpug has been re-
the doors. The statues are giant humans with the
luctant to look for secret caches. So far, the ancient
gods have tolerated their presence. He does not
heads of lions.
2. The Great Hall: This huge hall, built to giant proportions, rises some 40 feet to a domed
want to do anything to upset that. In fact, Tenpug
has taken to placing a share of the goods they make
and the money they earn on the massive altar as an
ceiling. Great stone pillars stretch like trees from
the floor to the ceiling. Between these pillars, the
tribe has erected great tents that serve as living
offering to the ancient gods. He hopes this appeasement will keep his band welcome within the ancient
halls.
and work areas.
31
lieving that they would not receive warm welcomes if
their hosts knew they were escaped slaves. Instead,
3, 4, 5. Empty Chambers: Each of these huge
chambers has 25-foot-high ceilings. These cham-
they pretend to be freemen looking for honest work.
Of course, sometimes a lone traveler makes a
bers were empty when the tribe arrived and Ten-
tempting target for monsters, raiders, or slavers.
pug has decided to keep them that way. The only
items of interest in these rooms are the wall mu-
Every once in a while, a member of Tenpug’s Band
goes out and never returns. That is a cruel fact of
rals that have been etched directly into the stone.
life for the ex-slaves in Tenpug’s Band.
The murals depict scenes of a world far different
from present-day Athas. There are lush forests,
Joining the Tribe
huge lakes, raging rivers and waterfalls, and giants engaged in artisan activities.
Any slave with a talent as an artist or artisan is
welcome to join Tenpug’s Band. Tenpug wants
nothing to do with preservers, defilers, or templars,
6. Secret Chamber: So far, this chamber has
remained hidden from the tribe. It still contains
however, and none of these ex-slaves are welcome.
Also, the mul is cautious when it comes to warrior
its original treasures, including giant-sized furniture, piles of gold, and objects made of metal.
types who want to join his band. Though the tribe
There are bronze cups, iron swords, and even
could always use another strong defender, Tenpug
knows that his people have grown used to being on
whole suits of plate mail armor.
7, 8, 9. Empty Chambers: These rooms are
similar to rooms 3, 4 and 5.
their own. Warrior types usually like to lead, and
Tenpug’s Band just isn’t set up as a military organization.
10. Secret Chamber: This room is similar to
room 6.
Tenpug’s Band attracts artists and artisans, for
these were once wretched slaves who found a measure of worth by demonstrating artistic abilities.
11. Altar Chamber: A gigantic stepped altar
fills much of this huge hall. Tenpug has piled
goods made by the tribe as well as a portion of the
They have no practical skills, only artistic talent;
while they were slaves their lives often ended as soon
as the popularity of their creations waned.
wages the tribe has earned atop the altar as a tribute to the ancient gods who have allowed them to
Those who are accepted into the tribe must spend
dwell in this temple. The tents set up in this area
a period of time apprenticed to someone with similar
talents. They spend this apprenticeship at the tem-
include storage tents, Tenpug’s command tent,
and meeting tents.
ple, working beside the tribe member and learning
about life in Tenpug’s Band. Once the tribe member is convinced that the apprentice is good for the
Relations with Others
tribe, he is made a full member and assigned weeks
With the possible exception of raiding tribes and
to sell his services. This period is designed to weed
out spies and slavers, for to simply allow a new mem-
city-states, Tenpug’s Band gets along well with the
other settlements in the wilderness. Few settlements
ber to see the location of the camp and then wander
refuse to welcome their craftsmen with open arms
and open purses, for the coming of even a single
off is to invite disaster. Those not accepted are sent
into the Sea of Silt without food, water, or weapon.
traveler breaks the normal routine and brings news
of other places to the remote villages.
The Band keeps its members’ pasts hidden, be-
32
Important Tribe Members
region.
The mul with one arm appears frightening to
Tenpug
Mul Gladiator, Lawful Neutral
many, but he is actually a very gentle, very quiet
man who toils endlessly over his wares. The work-
Armor Class 5 (carru leather)
Movement 12
Str 20
Dex 17
Level 7
Con 16
Hit Points 56
THAC0 11
Int 15
Wis 13
No. of Attacks 3/2
Cha 11
manship shows in the final product.
Once he arrives at a village and demonstrates his
craftsmanship, customers gather their own material
for him to work on. They gather pieces of stone and
bone to take to Tenpug One-Arm. Then the onearmed mul forges the material into a sword, or axe,
or dagger of perfect balance and razor sharpness.
Damage/Attack: 1d4 +9 (iron war hammer)
When he isn’t away working, Tenpug leads the
tribe much as he makes weapons. He has forged his
Tenpug once served as a gladiator in the arena of
Nibenay. It was there that he lost his left arm and
who make a good living selling their talents.
band into a successful group of artists and artisans
almost his life. He was made an artisan slave after
Feera
Half-Elf Artisan, Chaotic Good
he healed, at which time he showed a talent for making weapons. Now he works as a weaponsmith in
the tribe, turning out some of the finest weapons of
Armor Class 8 (padded armor)
stone and bone to be found anywhere in the Tyr
Movement 12
33
Str 13
Dex 13
normal activities associated with the slave tribes—
Hit Points 16
C o n 12
Int 1 4
they raid caravans, they stay alert for slave hunters,
THAC0 20
No. of Attacks 1
W i s 13
C h a 12
their last. In addition, the people of Salt View have
Level 3
and they live every moment of freedom as if it were
a true love of the arts. They are especially enamored
Damage/Attack: 1d4-1 (bone dagger, -1 to attack roll)
of storytelling, which they have taken to new levels in
arenas they call theaters. Here, instead of a single
storyteller weaving a tale for an audience, a whole
Psionic Summary: P S P 3 0 ; W i l d T a l e n t Biofeedback (PS Con-2; Cost-6 + 3/round)
group of storytellers acts out the tale from beginning
to end. I must tell you, to watch such a performance
Feera, a half-elf female, serves as a bone carver in
is to be whisked away to another time!
In Salt View, the wild, boisterous raiders enjoy
Tenpug’s Band. She is a well-spoken, likable, and
performing for audiences. While the permanent
attractive young woman who puts customers at ease
theaters in Salt View are used to hone their skills,
with her friendly banter.
Feera was not born into slavery. She was the
they send traveling theaters out to villages, caravan
camps, and oases to perform for others. This new
daughter of a freeman in Raam who made his living
much as Tenpug’s Band does today—by selling the
fruits of his carving talent. Feera grew up in this en-
concept has apparently appealed to many, for I understand that the village supplements its livelihood
with the proceeds these traveling theaters bring in.
vironment, learning her artisan skills at her father’s
The two plays (that is what they call these multiple
side. Her father was human, and she never learned
what happened to her mother. She only knew that
her father loved the elf woman very much. Disaster
storyteller performances) I watched were exhilarating and quite enjoyable.
Salt View is a fairly sizable village of more than
struck when her father took on a job for a templar.
The templar liked the bone carving so much that he
had Feera and her father arrested and turned over
500 people. Representatives of all races constantly
walk the busy streets, enjoying lives that are no longer controlled by the whims and desires of uncaring
to the slave pens. Feera was assigned to the concubine pen, and soon learned to hate the self-serving
masters. While humans and dwarves account for a
large part of the population, quite a number of elves
templar.
have taken up residence specifically to perform in
A chance trip away from the city led to Feera’s
escape. While the templar was examining the fields,
the theaters. There are also a few muls in the village,
including the tribe’s leader. On my visit, I even saw
Feera slipped away. Eventually she was found by one
a thri-kreen and a couple of half-giants wandering
of Tenpug’s Band on his way back from a job. He
took the young woman with him and she soon be-
around.
W i t h such a diversity of individuals, there is no
came a member of the tribe.
single dominating trait at work in Salt View. The
Salt View
closest the entire group comes to a unified outlook
can be seen in the chaotic nature of the village itself.
People come and go without rhyme or reason, and
To enter the village of Salt View is to enter a place
of contrasts. Moving about among its people, you
most spurn serious work in favor of having a good
time. This is not to say that the people of Salt View
will see life in a slave tribe from a number of differ-
are lazy, for when the need arises they band together
ent angles. The villagers are an unruly lot of exslaves from all races. They partake in most of the
to accomplish the job at hand. But the orderly
34
schedules kept by other slave tribes like Tenpug’s
During a raid, chaotic freedom takes a back seat to
Band remind the people of Salt View too much of
their past lives as slaves. When work must be done,
it is. When a job can wait, the people fill the streets
obeyed or the precious supplies they seek could be
lost. It was an amazing sight to see the otherwise
with drink, song, and dance.
loud and unruly slaves fall into line to conduct a
Salt View, although a raiding tribe, should not be
confused with the likes of the Black Sand Raiders.
Salt View raiders rarely injure or kill those they am-
raid.
Other than the rankings based on strength and
skill that are assigned to the raiding parties, there
bush. They want the carried goods and supplies,
not the blood of the caravan’s protectors. Once they
are no formal levels of authority in Salt View. A
more organized chain of command smacks of the
military protocol. Raiding party officers must be
subdue a caravan and take what they can carry, they
city-state hierarchies that Salt View has rejected. In-
thank their victims with a theatrical flourish and
ride back into the Great Ivory Plain.
formal levels of authority, based on the power of the
strong over the weak, exist here as in most slave
tribes. Often, decisions are agreed upon by combat
Organization
or the edge of a dagger. Survival of the fittest is definitely the law in Salt View.
Salt View, like most slave tribe communities, is
loosely organized into a military structure. Xaynon,
Operations and Means of Existence
an ex-gladiator mul, leads the tribe through
strength and battle prowess. It’s not quite true to
The village does not maintain farms or raise herds
say that he commands the other members of the
of animals. It rarely engages in trade, and few arti-
tribe, but his suggestions are almost always followed. He tries to let the community fend for itself,
sans set up shops within its walls. Hunting and
gathering, while practiced, serve to supplement the
imposing as few rules and restrictions upon the ex-
tribe’s primary source of revenue. Salt View, first
slaves as possible. As long as no one limits the freedom of another, the people of Salt View are free to
and foremost, is a base of operations for raiding
parties that prey upon travelers and caravans bound
do as they please. However, if danger threatens or a
for Gulg and Nibenay. Merchant caravans making
raid must be undertaken, Xaynon sheds his lackadaisical approach to leadership and becomes a war-
the circuit between these two rival city-states never
know when the raiders from Salt View will appear to
lord to be reckoned with. At these times, the
ex-slaves know better than to challenge his authority, for fear of a quick and painful death.
demand tributes for safe passage or even entire cargoes from them.
Whenever Salt View needs to restock dwindling
Xaynon’s chief advisor is a preserver named
supplies, it sends scouts into the Great Ivory Plain
Arya, who often backs his authority with powerful
displays of magic. Many distrust the wizard, as
to watch for approaching caravans. Once a caravan’s path has been established, the scouts return to
most slaves look upon their kind with suspicion, ha-
lead an appropriately sized raiding party back to the
tred, and fear. None can deny that the mage has
earned her place in Salt View, though, often using
caravan. A raiding party might track a caravan for
days, shadowing its trail while determining the size
her arcane arts to the benefit of the village.
and strength of its guards. Once the party leader
Most of the villagers operate as members of one
or more raiding parties. These groups come togeth-
feels he has learned everything he needs, he meets
with his veteran raiders to plan an ambush. Am-
er under the command of Xaynon’s chief lieuten-
bushes can be simple affairs in which the raiders
ants for the express purpose of engaging in raids.
rush out of the wilderness, or they can be compli-
35
cated sieges designed to cripple wagons and break
so the theaters there are more for the enjoyment of
the spirit of defenders.
the tribe. Plays are scheduled nightly, bringing
As stated earlier, the raiders from Salt View try to
keep their plundering as bloodless as possible. They
laughter, drama, music, or tears to enthralled audiences. The atmosphere is contagious, and almost all
see cargo bound for the city-states as fair compensa-
of Salt View’s inhabitants belong to one of the
tion for the years they spent as slaves to the sorcererkings. They have no desire to hurt anyone or see any
dozens of theater companies operating in the vil-
of their fellows hurt in turn. They will defend them-
lage. They practice and perfect their techniques on
the stages to the delight of their fellows, then take
selves and even kill stubborn mercenaries if necessary, but always as a last resort.
their shows on the road to bring enjoyment to others.
Most merchant houses that trade with Gulg and
Traveling acting troupes have become lucrative
Nibenay are painfully aware of Salt View and its
raiders. While some have tried to foil the raiders’
additions to the normal operations of the tribe.
These troupes put on shows for wealthy merchants
attempts by constantly changing caravan schedules
at caravan camps and for settlers in neighboring vil-
and even hiring more guards, most have simply increased the prices charged in the area to make up
lages, usually appearing before packed crowds. The
troupes put on fine shows that leave their audiences
wanting more, ensuring them return engagements.
for the occasional lost shipment. As long as Salt
View continues to take only what it needs and does
not resort to needless bloodshed, the merchant
If they can gain information concerning caravan
schedules and carried cargo while performing for
houses will tolerate the infrequent raids. Any notice-
the merchants, so much the better.
The troupes pass themselves off as freemen, never
able increase in raids or incidents of excessive violence could lead to a war of sorts. The merchant
revealing their identities as ex-slaves or hinting at a
houses have been known to pool their resources in
connection to Salt View. In fact, they go to great
the past to hire large armies of mercenaries to drive
out raiders and monsters along caravan trails.
Xaynon is careful to keep his tribe’s activities below
lengths to approach a camp or village from the opposite direction of the Mekillot Mountains.
The acting troupes from Salt View never put on
the levels that would inspire such action to be taken
against Salt View.
shows for nobles or templars, and they have been
known to refuse even the invitation of Nibenay’s
The slave tribe supplements the revenues brought
sorcerer-king (who thought he was hiring a group of
in by caravan raids with a new form of entertainment. Salt View boasts a bustling theater district
freemen). To perform for these people would be akin
to once again donning the shackles of slavery, no
where a new breed of artists, called actors, stage
matter how much wealth may be offered. They may
productions, called plays, for appreciative audiences of fellow slaves. These plays have the same feel
as the stories told by traveling bards, but with one
satirize these classes in their plays, but they will not
major difference. Instead of simply telling a story,
the actors take on the roles of the characters and act
Origin
perform for them.
Xaynon and his original tribe of raiders grew tired
out the story as though it were actually happening
of the nomadic life they were leading. They wanted
on the stage. These productions range from simple
affairs to elaborate treatments complete with cos-
more than just the freedom of the trail. They wanted
the freedom to establish homes and raise families.
tumes and scenery.
Few non-tribe members ever get to visit Salt View,
They wanted the safety and security that only a fortified village could provide them. When his tribe set
36
foot upon the eastern face of the Mekillot Moun-
they quickly explained that they wanted this arena to
tains and found the abandoned salt mine, Xaynon
serve as a showcase for the arts, not for bloody en-
knew that they had found their home.
tertainment. So Xaynon agreed and Salt View’s
first theater was built. Who would have imagined at
Xaynon had been a gladiator, regularly fighting
for his life in the arena in Raam. When the mul
the time that one day the actors would earn a significant percentage of the village’s income, taking their
place beside the raiding parties as revenue pro-
finally found freedom, he imagined that his days of
fighting were over. He was wrong, for he soon found
himself fighting the leader of the slave tribe he
ducers? Even now Xaynon laughs at the thought—
joined for command of the group. His victory began
a new chapter in this tribe’s existence. First, the mul
when he is not on stage performing!
Location and Defenses
led them away from Raam, taking his tribe southwest in search of plunder and adventure. Second,
he changed the tribe’s habit of killing those they
Salt View is located on the eastern face of the Mekillot Mountains, overlooking the Great Ivory
stole from. There was no need to bring more death
Plain. The village has been built within a great cave
to this dying world, he told them. He also gave them
more freedom to determine their fates. When they
that Xaynon believes was once a salt mine for the
ancients. The village’s first line of defense is the geography itself, for the village is hidden within the
needed a leader, he was there. When they did not,
he let them make their own decisions.
More ex-slaves joined Xaynon’s tribe as it trav-
mountain’s numerous caverns. The trails up the
mountain are winding, dangerous affairs that often
eled around the perimeter of the Sea of Silt, past the
end in steep cliffs or impassable walls. Only the in-
Dragon’s Bowl, and south toward the Great Ivory
Plain. Besides the soldiers and gladiators that
habitants of Salt View know which paths lead to
their village, and any unwanted guests can be discouraged with sudden rock slides or unseen pit
flocked to Xaynon’s side, he attracted a large following of artists. Perhaps this was because he enjoyed
the arts, and even fancied himself something of an
traps. If anyone reaches the cavern itself, the tunnels
leading to the village can be collapsed. A blocked
artist. He loved to tell stories and dance, and he
secret tunnel can be opened in such an event, pro-
could listen to sculptors and painters talk for hours
about the techniques of their craft.
viding an escape route for the villagers.
As in other slave tribes, every member of the Salt
In the Mekillot Mountains, he ordered his tribe
View community can be called upon to defend the
to halt. The time of travel was over, he decided, at
least as far as he was concerned. Anyone who want-
village. Even those slaves who came to the tribe without any combat skills have received enough training
ed to continue on was free to go. Those who wanted
to enable them to wield sword or club in their own
to stay would have to help him build the village he
always dreamed of living in. That was how Xaynon
defense. And those with warrior or military backgrounds have honed their skills on countless raiding
and his tribe came to build Salt View within the
missions.
caves of the mountains.
Not long after the first dwellings were built and
Salt View Village
the perimeter wall was constructed, a few artists who
had shared stories and poems with Xaynon asked if
they could build an arena. The ex-gladiator was
Hidden within a huge cavern in the Mekillot
Mountains, Salt View rests serenely out of sight of
aghast at the suggestion and in his anger he almost
the spying eyes of its enemies. The layout of the vil-
struck the man who suggested such a thing. But
lage is chaotic in nature, with very little evidence of
37
plan or purpose.
The village gets its water from a mountain stream
4. Theater District: Besides the Theater Arena, dozens upon dozens of smaller theaters fill
that pools within the cavern. There are no fields of
crops to harvest, no herds of animals to watch over.
this section of the village. There are also a few
There is a marketplace where the goods and sup-
taverns scattered throughout the area.
plies taken in raids are displayed. Members of the
tribe take turns distributing stolen food and other
5. Residential Area: Like Area 2 above.
items as fairly as possible among the entire popula-
6. Cavern Pool: A thin stream of water runs
tion.
The rest of the village is a haphazard grouping of
from the top of the cavern to a pool against the
dwellings and taverns—the inhabitants of Salt View
salt deposits, the water has a salty taste. Still, it
rock wall. Since much of the cavern is filled with
love their taverns—built around the large theater
does not contain so much salt that it is unhealthy
district and the small artisan camp. Some theaters
to drink, and the village uses it to supplement its
are simply raised platforms set before open ground
supply of water (gained in raids against caravans
where audiences can sit, the entire area covered by a
tent. Others, like the artist arena, is built of stone
and other villages).
7. Blocked Tunnel: This tunnel serves as an escape route should the main tunnels be unavail-
and shaped like a gladiatorial arena. Most other
buildings, including the dwellings, are either
thatched huts, brick boxes, or large tents.
able. The rocks blocking the tunnel can be
moved aside quickly to provide access.
Map Key
Relations with Others
The following key describes the map of Salt
Salt View engages in very little trade with other
settlements. They produce few goods, instead rely-
View village.
1. The Theater Arena: This structure, mod-
ing upon passing caravans to supply their needs. As
elled after gladiatorial arenas, serves as a meeting
such, Salt View is considered an illegal community
of thieves by both Gulg and Nibenay. Fortunately,
hall for the village, as well as a place to perform
elaborate plays.
the troubled relations that keep these two city-states
at odds also keep them too busy and cautious to
mount expeditions into the Mekillots in search of
2. Residential Area: This portion of the village
is made up of dwellings for the tribe members.
There are also a fair number of taverns scattered
the slave tribe’s village. Both cities fear that they
would leave themselves open to attack by the other if
they sent large forces after the raiders.
throughout this area.
3. Marketplace and Artisan Camp: In this
portion of the village, tribe members take turns
Both cities occasionally send armed escorts to
guide and protect approaching caravans, and these
forces do cause trouble for the raiders. But many
handing out the goods stolen in raids. Also, a
small portion of the area houses the artisan
camp, where artisans work for their own enjoy-
caravans cannot afford large numbers of troops,
and these make easy targets for Salt View’s inhabitants.
ment, as well as to produce necessary items for
the village. There are a few taverns scattered
Salt View’s nearest neighbor, the dwarven village
throughout this area.
of North Ledopolus, refuses to have anything to do
38
39
with the slave tribe. They consider the raiders a
threat to their caravans, as evidenced by the amount
Recently, Xaynon has ordered his scouts to watch
for signs of other raiders working the Great Ivory
of cargo that never reaches its destination.
The merchant houses that regularly trade with
Plain. When such a group is spotted, the scouts are
to bring the news to Xaynon immediately. Raiding
Gulg and Nibenay are familiar with Salt View and
parties are routinely sent out to catch up to a sighted
its practices. Many order their caravan drivers to
simply give up part of their cargo as tribute to the
der any caravans.
pretender group and drive it off before it can plun-
raiders, in effect purchasing free passage through
Joining the Tribe
the Great Ivory Plain and its surrounding environs.
Others try all kinds of things to deter the raiders—
Salt View is cautious when it comes to bringing in
varying their caravan schedules, traveling at night,
new members. Xaynon knows he needs fresh blood
adding extra guards, employing powerful psionicists
and mages, even sending out decoy caravans carry-
and muscle to keep the tribe strong, but he also
knows it must be the right blood and muscle. Only
ing worthless cargo to occupy the raiders while the
slaves are considered for membership, and it helps if
true caravan takes another route. Sometimes these
ploys work, but more often than not the raiders get
the slaves have a talent for entertaining. Salt View
takes its reputation for fine theater very seriously.
their share of goods to distribute at Salt View’s mar-
Those who do wish to join must undergo a period
ket.
Salt View maintains good relations with the mer-
of testing. During this time, they participate in raids
and work with the acting troupes while tribe leaders
chant houses and even with the dwarven villages
carefully evaluate them. If the period of testing goes
through the activities of its traveling acting troupes.
While these troupes never claim to be from Salt
well, the slave becomes a full member of the tribe
and nothing more is ever said. However, if a slave
View, many of their audiences suspect the truth.
does not perform well and must be denied a place in
They have grown so fond of these actors and their
plays, however, that they never voice their suspicions
the tribe, he is sent into the Sea of Silt to die. The
tribe cannot chance having a denied member reveal
or threaten the actors in any way. They consider the
Salt View’s location to its enemies.
raiders a necessary hazard of business (at least as
long as they do not become greedy or needlessly kill
Things that will cause a slave to be turned down
for membership include extremely violent tendencies, excessive bloodthirstiness in raids, an unwill-
the caravan attendants), and they adjust their prices
accordingly. The acting troupes provide a level of
entertainment unavailable anywhere else, and so
ingness to fit in, and bad acting.
they receive the hospitality and protection of their
Important Tribe Members
hosts (as well as ample payment) in exchange for an
evening of fine theater.
Xaynon
Mul Gladiator, C h a o t i c G o o d
The biggest threat to Salt View is from other
bands of raiders who claim to be part of Xaynon’s
tribe but have no regard for the lives attached to the
Armor Class 4 (braxat hide breastplate)
caravans they plunder. Consequently, these small
Movement 12
Str 21
Dex 18
groups of raiders are not on good terms with the
people of Salt View. If these pretenders cause too
Level 7
C o n 15
much blood to be spilled, then Salt View could find
Hit Points 79
THAC0 8
Int 1 4
W i s 16
itself in serious trouble with the merchant houses.
No. of Attacks 3/2
C h a 15
40
in the end the mul and a handful of his fellows had
Damage/Attack: 2d4 + 3 (steel bastard sword)
escaped. The ex-slaves fled into the wilderness
Xaynon was a crowd favorite at the gladiatorial
arena in Raam. Whenever the powerful mul was
around Raam, eventually joining up with a raiding
tribe. It wasn’t long before Xaynon challenged the
scheduled to appear, wagering increased. Xaynon
raider’s leader for control of the tribe. Like every
had never lost a match, and this fact inspired the
battle he had ever fought, he won that one, too.
Now his tribe is firmly established in the Mekillot
crowds to bet heavily—both for and against him.
When the young mul made his first appearance in
t h e a r e n a , he enjoyed the cheers of the crowd.
When he won the day, the cheers serenaded him.
Mountains, living in a village called Salt View.
Xaynon leads by example and by granting his people the freedom to do as they choose. This freedom
But with each victory he won, another gladiator
is appreciated and cherished, but they always turn
died, and the cheers turned to wails of sorrow in his
mind. The cheers haunted him, conjuring images of
to the mul for advice, leadership, and protection.
every human, dwarf, and mul he killed. Finally, he
Xaynon loves all expressions of art, and artists
and artisans find a special place in his tribe. He es-
decided that he had had enough of this bloody entertainment.
pecially loves the artist arena, where he can watch
fine performances and give some of his own. The
Xaynon urged the other gladiators in his pen to
mul enjoys acting in comedies best of all, and the
rise up against the guards watching over them.
Many died on both sides of the conflict that day, but
cheers that rise up when he takes the stage have almost made him forget the bloody memories of his
past. Almost.
41
Arya
Vandrellen
Half-Elf Preserver, Lawful Neutral
Elf Ranger, Chaotic Good
Armor Class 6
Str 12
Movement 12
Dex 18
Movement 12
Dex 21
Level 7
Hit Points 28
Con 15
Int 17
Level 6
THAC0 18
Wis 17
THAC0 15
Con 14
Int 17
Wis 16
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 16
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 18
Armor Class 3 (carru leather)
Hit Points 33
Damage/Attack: 1d6 (wooden quarterstaff)
Str 15
Damage/Attack: 1ds-1 (obsidian long sword, -2
to attack roll)
Arya is a tall woman with striking features and
long, dark blond hair. She is of indeterminate age,
Psionic Summary: PSP 48; Wild Talent-
and her slightly exotic eyes hint at the half-elven her-
Precognition (PS Wis-5; Cost—24)
itage she never talks about. In fact, Arya never talks
about her past at all, except to admit she once
Vandrellen escaped from Raam with Xaynon af-
served as a slave in a city-state far from the Tyr re-
ter a short stint as a gladiator. When the elf was
gion.
The woman joined Xaynon shortly after he took
taken as a slave, he refused to bend to the templars’
will. Vandrellen’s lack of cooperation quickly landed
him in the arena, where it was decided that if he
command of the tribe. She literally appeared out of
the ruins of Yaramuke and offered her services to
the mul. While the rest of his tribe failed to hide
could not serve a useful function he would at least
provide some entertainment in a gladiatorial bout.
their fears and suspicions, Xaynon took the woman
His speed and fighting skills surprised everyone,
at her word. She became his chief advisor and a
powerful ally to the tribe.
Arya is now such a fixture at the beloved mul’s
though, and Vandrellen won his first two matches.
His next scheduled bout was against Xaynon, but
side that long-time tribe members have come to accept her, if not trust her. Newer members still find
mine who was better.
The hearty and unpredictable elf decided to stay
the thought of a wizard with such influence very dis-
with Xaynon. He told the mul that he could not
turbing, but they are careful not to voice their apprehension in earshot of either the woman or
leave before he satisfied his curiosity about which of
them would have won their match. Now, years later,
Xaynon.
Vandrellen remains at Xaynon’s side as a valued
One thing that has eased feelings over the years is
that Arya practices a non-destructive art. She does
member of Salt View.
Vandrellen serves as a raiding party leader, em-
the two escaped before they were forced to deter-
not engage in the practices of the defilers, but works
ploying his skills as a ranger and warrior to best ad-
a balance between nature and magic. Some have
even suggested that she is a member of the Veiled
vantage. Like many ex-slaves, the elf does not reveal
much about his past. Sometimes he gets a far-away
Alliance, but no one knows for sure. What they do
look in his golden eyes, and at those moments
know is that Arya uses her art for the benefit of Salt
View, and for that she finds tolerance and an un-
Xaynon wonders how much longer his friend will re-
easy acceptance.
will announce he is returning to his own people. On
main with the village. Someday, he believes, the elf
42
that day, Xaynon will wish him well and try not to
local form of entertainment that took storytelling to
show his sadness.
new heights, he knew he had to find out if it was
Like many of Salt View’s inhabitants, Vandrellen
loves to perform on stage. He is an accomplished
true. While his claim to being a slave has never been
substantiated (and most believe he never was), the
actor, easily moving from one role to another with a
bard made a fine showing during his period of test-
skill that makes many of the other actors jealous. He
seems to have no favorite type of role, for he ap-
ing. When Xaynon heard Kilay sing, he immediately agreed to let him join the tribe.
The bard does his share of tribal work. He goes
proaches every kind of play with equal relish.
on raids, travels with the acting troupes, and even
Kilay
has been known to pitch in when the wall needs re-
Human Bard, Chaotic Neutral
pairs. But his true love is creating stories for the ac-
Armor Class 6 (carru leather)
tors to perform, and few others can match the power
of his creations.
Str 14
Movement 12
Dex 16
Level 6
Hit Points 24
THAC0 18
Con 12
Int 20
Wis 18
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 17
Krikik’s Pack
Now let me tell you about a tribe of ex-slaves who
have adopted a rather different type of lifestyle from
most other slave tribes. This tribe, or “pack,” as
they call themselves, operates out of a hidden oasis
Damage/Attack: 1d4-1 (stone dagger, -2 to at-
that has a small copse around it. While the pack is
tack roll)
made up of as varied an assortment of races as any
slave tribe, it has patterned itself after a thri-kreen
Psionic Summary: PSP 43; Wild Talent—Animate
hunting pack.
Shadows (PS Wis-3; Cost—7 + 3/round)
The pack is led by a thri-kreen druid named Krikik. The druid sees the members of his pack as not
Perhaps the most accomplished playwright work-
only hunters but as fellow protectors of the hidden
ing in Salt View is the bard, Kilay. Kilay is short for
oasis he guards. Everything that passes near the oasis is prey for the pack, providing food and other
a human, barely taller than a dwarf, but the plays
he creates for the theaters of Salt View are wonder-
supplies for the members.
The pack lives within the trees of its hidden oasis.
There are less than 50 ex-slaves in the pack, which
ful to behold. He has tried his hand at all types of
stories, but a few stand out as particularly fine. His
comedy, The Halfling Comes to Dinner, stands out
often leaves the tree village to roam the surrounding
as a work of comedic genius. His drama, The Last
countryside in search of travelers to prey upon.
Krikik’s Pack views life as a precarious balance
Slave in Yaramuke, brings tears to the eyes of every
audience, even if they have seen it before.
that must be maintained. As such, the pack sees
The bard also performs from time to time, usually
itself as an instrument of balance. When the pack
has a need, it seeks a passing caravan that has too
preferring musicals to heavy dramatic roles. His
voice has been called the most beautiful sound in
much of a given item. By taking what it needs from
Salt View, and many a fair maiden has swooned to
those who have too much, the pack maintains a balance and so helps the world. Granted, I doubt that
Kilay’s songs.
Kilay came to Salt View after its reputation for
many of the pack members see it this way, but it is
fine theater had spread. When he heard tales of a
how their leader understands it. And without Kri-
43
kik, the pack would soon dissolve into a purposeless
dwarf named Krom. Krom relies totally on strength
collection of individuals.
and weapon skill to keep his position of dominance.
Krikik’s Pack can be considered a raiding tribe,
though they never take more than they need from
While he sometimes feels he could take Jaleen and
thus move up in rank, he likes the psionicist too
those they plunder. They have no qualms about kill-
much to want to upset the current order. As long as
ing, and some of the pack’s members relish bloodshed, but usually they do not go out of their way to
Jaleen treats him with the respect he believes is his
due, he will be content to stay third in dominance
engage in slaughter. Instead, the pack kills when it
order.
While this dominance order reminds some of the
must, hunts when it has needs to satisfy, and plunders from those who are weaker.
ex-slaves of the ranks used by templars, the pack
does not treat its members like slaves. In fact, every-
Organization
one who wants to can battle for dominance if he so
desires. No one is assigned a position just because
Krikik’s Pack is led by a thri-kreen druid. He sees
of the station he was born into or the amount of
this collection of ex-slaves as his hunting pack, and
money in his belt pouch.
so treats each member as though he or she were a
fellow thri-kreen. Krikik does not abide idleness,
Operations and Means of Existence
though he understands that his pack cannot go
without sleep like a normal thri-kreen pack. When
rest is over, however, the druid expects his followers
The hunt is the pack’s primary means of existence
(though others call what they do raiding). The pack
to hunt or care for the oasis.
The pack is organized along a strict order of dominance, as in any thri-kreen pack. Krikik assumes
ranges far from its hidden oasis to search for small
caravans or other vulnerable groups of travelers.
When the pack attacks, it can be vicious. Well-
his place as leader, though he has never been challenged for dominance. The rest know exactly where
they stand in the pack, and any disagreements are
protected prey is hit hard and killed quickly in order
to even the odds. Weaker prey may be spared if they
surrender. The pack will destroy an entire caravan,
handled via the time-tested method of battling until
however, in order to protect the oasis.
one of the combatants surrenders or is killed. Because of the pack instinct, Krikik is extremely loyal
At times, the pack even attacks villages or the
fields around a city-state if Krikik believes they can
to his fellow tribe members. He expects the same
do so with a minimum of casualties.
loyalty from them.
Jaleen, a human psionicist, serves as second in
The pack takes only those items it needs or will
use in the near future. It does not plunder to raise
command of the pack, and usually leads the hunts
wealth, but to survive. Food, water, weapons, and
that take the pack away from the oasis. She ruthlessly uses her psionic abilities to put down any oppo-
clothing are the most common targets in a hunt.
Krikik also demands that the pack aid him in pro-
nent, and her skills with physical weapons have
tecting the hidden oasis. This involves driving off
surprised many who thought she was an easy target
once her psionic powers were spent. She appreciates
destructive creatures or even attacking travelers who
desecrate the oasis in any way. Travelers who seek to
the hunting pack attitude that Krikik has instilled in
use the oasis for normal purposes are not bothered
the tribe. Sometimes she even imagines herself as
one of the powerful mantis warriors, prowling the
unless their number includes a defiler or if they pose
some threat to the pack. Of course, once they leave
desert in search of prey.
the oasis there is nothing to stop the pack from preying on them.
The third rank in the pack is currently held by a
44
Origin
The story I have heard concerning the origin of
Krikik’s Pack tells much about this strange tribe of
ex-slaves. The thri-kreen druid had started his time
of wandering, traveling the Tyr region to gain understanding of the world and his faith. While traveling near Draj, Krikik was captured and placed into
slavery. He decided to abide as a slave for a time, for
he considered the bondage as another part of his
time of wandering and learning.
While working in the fields outside the city-state,
Krikik got to know his fellow slaves, including the
psionicist Jaleen. Jaleen had pursuaded some of the
other slaves to join her in an escape attempt. Sure
that this somehow related to his period of learning,
Krikik decided to help the slaves escape. Using his
own strength and druidic powers to complement Jaleen’s psionics and the others’ sheer determination,
Krikik provided the extra ingredient to overpower
the guards.
Once the small group of runaway slaves reached
the open desert, some of them began complaining
that they had no plan, no supplies, and no chance
to survive. Listening to these beings, Krikik finally
came to a decision. He challenged Jaleen for leadership, telling the slaves that he knew a place they
would be safe. The psionicist did not resist Krikik’s
bid for dominance, for she had seen his powers and
had no plan of her own. So the druid led the slaves
to his guarded land.
Krikik decided that these people were to be the
pack he did not have. They were the reason he had
originally started wandering, for the oasis he guarded was too precious to trust to a single guardian. It
needed a full pack to protect it from defilers and
desecraters. These slaves would be Krikik’s pack,
and they would serve as additional guardians for his
hidden oasis.
He explained to the ex-slaves what a pack was and
how it was set up. Anyone who did not want to remain with the pack was free to leave, but they had to
leave as they arrived—without supplies of any kind.
45
None of the ex-slaves took his offer to go. They all
decided they wanted to be part of Krikik’s Pack.
decision must be made about his guarded land,
the druid makes it alone. He does listen to the
Location and Defenses
opinions of his dominant pack members, however.
Krikik’s Pack operates from a hidden oasis that is
the druid’s guarded land. The oasis lies at the bot-
2. Rope Ladders: These openings in the tree
tom of a deep valley in the mountains north of
platform allow egress to the tree village. Strong
Raam. The valley, especially the area right around
the oasis, is a lush domain of fertile land. A small
rope ladders made from hemp and giant hair can
be raised or lowered depending on the situation,
copse of trees surrounds the oasis, and the pack has
and hatches can be closed to offer further protection.
built a village within the branches of these trees.
The location of the hidden valley is the oasis’s pri-
3. Jaleen’s Tent: This tent serves as the living
mary defense. The small range of mountains is sur-
and sleeping area for the pack’s second in com-
rounded by desert on all sides, and the valley is
tucked away between two closely-spaced peaks. The
mand.
druid guards the oasis with all of his ability, for he
4. Supply Tent: Whatever the pack acquires
during a hunt or raid is stored in this tent. Food,
considers this patch of land to be his sacred trust.
With the help of the pack, he can deal with most
water, and extra weapons are placed here.
bands of travelers who would desecrate the area.
5. Krom’s Tent: This tent serves as the living
The pack itself remains hidden within the branches and leaves of the trees. They have built a village
and sleeping area for the pack’s third in command.
high above the ground by constructing platforms
6. Krikik’s Tent: When the druid is not com-
between the trunks of the largest trees. Protected
and hidden by the mighty branches and lush foli-
muning with the oasis or off wandering, he uses
this tent. As he does not need to sleep, the tent
serves as a place for the druid to think, to work on
age, the village is further disguised by covering the
tents with vines and leaves. Ladders can be raised,
thus eliminating all outward signs that the trees are
his weapons, or to meet with members of his
pack.
inhabited by a slave tribe.
Krikik’s Village
Relations with Others
The pack sees everyone as prey. Only those who
Map Key
approach the hidden oasis to drink are left alone,
but this free passage usually lasts only as long as the
The following key describes the map of Krikik’s
travelers remain within the oasis. Once outside, they
village.
again become prey for the pack.
Krikik’s Pack does not engage in trade. It exists to
1. The Meeting Tent: This large tent serves as
hunt and raid. The pack’s favorite targets are small
the gathering place for the pack. Here hunting
groups of travelers moving between Urik, Raam,
forays are planned, stories are told, and decisions
concerning the pack are discussed. Krikik allows
and Draj. At times the pack will even raid the fields
outside the city-states. The ex-slaves tend to stay
away from large settlements, for there are not
discussion on all topics save the oasis. When a
46
enough of them to adequately attack secure defenses.
If a slave agrees to these two rules of life in the
pack, he is allowed to join and even fight to establish
Joining the Tribe
his place in the dominance order. If a slave is found
unacceptable, he is either sent into the desert or
Few slaves wander out of the desert asking to be-
killed outright, depending on how much he can tell
come part of the pack. However, when the pack at-
others about the pack.
tacks caravans or fields where slaves are kept, they
often set the slaves free. If any of these slaves seek to
join the pack, they are invited to come along.
Important Tribe Members
Several considerations are made when determining if a slave is worthy of the pack. First, the slave
Thri-Kreen Druid, Neutral
Krikik
must serve the balance of the pack, neither upsetting the relationships of the members nor requiring
too much help to survive. The pack survives by
working together, and anyone who seeks to unbalance that is cast out into the desert to fend for himself. Second, the slave must agree to protect the
oasis, for that is the pack’s sacred mission (at least
as far as Krikik is concerned). The oasis offers the
pack shelter and water, and the pack must offer it
Armor Class 1
Movement 18
Str 18
Dex 18
Level 12
C o n 16
Hit Points 73
THAC0 14
Int 1 6
Wis 17
No. of Attacks 5 or 1
C h a 15
Damage/Attack:
protection in return.
(gythka)
47
1d4+2
(x4)
/
1d4+3
or
2d4+2
Chosen Spheres: Water, Cosmos
Animate Object, Ballistic Attack, Control Flames,
Krikik became a slave while on his time of wandering. He took his imprisonment in stride, seeing it as
Tower of Iron Will, Thought Shield
Control Light; Defense Modes-Mental Barrier,
just another learning experience. While working in
Jaleen was born a slave, growing up in the chil-
the fields outside Draj, the druid learned of an escape attempt planned by his fellow slaves. As this
dren’s pens in Draj. When she first demonstrated a
wild talent for psionics, the templars decided to kill
her. A noble petitioned for her life and took the
attempt also seemed to relate to his period of learning, Krikik decided to help the slaves. Together with
the psionicist named Jaleen, Krikik aided the slaves
child into his home to serve as one of his domestic
slaves. The noble was an accomplished psionicist
himself, and he found enjoyment in teaching young
escape into the desert.
It wasn’t long before the druid decided that these
ex-slaves were meant to help him with his life’s work
Jaleen to use her powers. He was good to her and as
of protecting his guarded land. He offered the
her mental powers against him. The templars, on
the other hand, were another matter. If she was ever
kind as masters get, and she never considered using
slaves a chance to become part of his pack. As pack
members, they would share in the thrill of the hunt
in a position to psionically attack the templar who
wanted to kill her, she would do so without a second
and would have an oasis for shelter as long as they
pledged to protect it. The slaves agreed and Krikik’s
Pack was formed.
thought.
Her life as a domestic servant ended when the noble died and she was turned over to the templars for
field duty. That was where she met Krikik. She now
Now Krikik spends most of his time in the hidden
valley, communing with the spirit of the oasis. He
sometimes goes on a hunt with his pack, but he pre-
serves as the pack’s second in command and personally leads most hunts.
fers to leave such matters to Jaleen.
Jaleen has fiery eyes that project defiance and a
Jaleen
fiercely independent mind. Her red hair falls about
her face like a mane of fire, and she has a temper
Human Psionicist, Lawful Neutral
that can melt stone. Still, she is a fair leader and has
Armor Class 8 (padded armor)
Str 16
Movement 12
Dex 14
Level 5
Hit Points 25
Con 15
Int 16
THAC0 18
Wis 18
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 15
earned the respect of Krikik and the pack.
Krom
Dwarf Fighter, Lawful Neutral
Armor Class 6 (mekillot hide)
Str 21
Movement 6
Dex 14
tack roll)
Level 7
Hit Points 62
Con 17
Int 12
THAC0 10
Wis 11
Psionic Summary: PSP 78; Disciplines—
No. of Attacks 3/2
Cha 12
Damage/Attack: 1d6 (bone short sword, -1 to at-
Clairsentience,
Psychokinesis;
Sciences—Aura
Sight, Clairvoyance, Project Force; Devotions—
Combat Mind, Danger Sense, Know Direction,
Damage/Attack: 1d4 + 3 (club)
Know Location, Radial Navigation, Spirit Sense,
The dwarf Krom once held an officer’s rank in
48
Draj’s slave army. He survived the slave uprising led
by Krikik and Jaleen, though he was left for dead
legends concerning the Black Sand tribe are dark
with a bloody head wound. When he awakened,
Krom decided to make his own bid for freedom.
Most tales center around the tribe’s leader, Zeburon, who wears an iron helm, iron gloves, and a
The other guards were dead, including the templar
breechcloth over otherwise bare flesh. The man—if
officer who kept the soldier slaves in line. There was
no one to stop the dwarf from simply picking up his
man he is—is capable of the same atrocities attributed to the sorcerer-kings, though on a smaller
weapon and walking away. He followed the escaping
scale. His cruelty, ruthlessness, and greed set the
slaves’ trail, as he had nowhere better to go at the
time.
agenda for his followers as he leads them on increasingly violent raids from the Siren’s Song to the
and evil.
Krom eventually caught up with the runaway
Dragon’s Bowl. In even quieter voices, people speak
slaves and asked to join. Though hesitant at first,
the other slaves agreed when Krikik and Jaleen wel-
of Zeburon’s wizard. This powerful defiler apparently communes with undead creatures, further
comed the dwarf. Now he shares his military train-
tainting the Black Sand Raiders’ already stained
ing with all who would learn.
While Krom is a fierce fighter, he has become an
souls.
Zeburon rides at the head of a tribe 100 strong.
accomplished tracker as well. He adores the human
Rumors say that the number of raiders never
Jaleen, and is content to remain third in dominance
order as long as she returns his gestures of friend-
changes, neither increasing nor decreasing. When a
tribe member dies, he is immediately replaced with
ship.
another escaped slave. Despite the claim that there
are 100 raiders in the tribe, no report has ever
The Black Sand Raiders
placed more than 30 of them in a single raiding party.
They sweep across the Tablelands like nightmare
wraiths, engaging in an unending spree of murder
The Black Sand Raiders are the epitome of evil
for those living outside the walls of the city-states.
and plunder. They are the Black Sand Raiders, and
These raiders stop at nothing to take what they
those unfortunate enough to encounter them leave
only broken, bloody bodies to tell the tale. I decided
want, and they seem to revel in death and destruction. Their chaotic evil tendencies are barely con-
not to include this tribe of ex-slaves on my list of
tained by Zeburon and his defiler wizard, but they
stops, but I did want to write about them in this
chronicle. What follows has been pieced together
are given plenty of opportunities to indulge those
tendencies during raiding.
from stories told to me by those who claimed to have
survived a meeting with the raiders, or those who
knew someone who had. The most reliable material
Organization
came from a dwarf who had been a member of the
Zeburon rules the Black Sand Raiders, quite lit-
tribe. He was willing to answer my questions, as
long as I never asked him his name. I never asked
erally, with an iron fist. He rules through power and
fear, easily putting down any challengers to his rule.
For the most part, as long as he continues to lead
him why he left the tribe, either.
the slaves on successful raids, Zeburon will continue
All tales told about the Black Sand Raiders are
told in whispers, as if speaking too loudly about
to command them. He claims the title of warlord,
though most of his conquests seem to be over the
these terrible marauders will attract their foul atten-
weak and poorly defended. He has yet to take on
tion. They have become creatures of legend, much
as the Free have. But unlike the tales of the Free, the
any well-protected caravans or operate near a city-
49
state.
They do not care that innocents and other slaves
The raiders are organized on a strictly military
suffer in their raids as well.
rank system. However, ranks are not earned by hard
workers and good leaders. Instead, the powerful
get they can overwhelm and pounce on it. The
move up in authority and position by eliminating
Black Sand marauders have been known to attack
those above them. If you can defeat your challenger
in battle (whether it is a fair fight or not), then you
The raiders’ technique is simple. They pick a tar-
can keep your rank. If not, a new officer is initiated
outposts and small villages, moderately-sized caravans, and even other raiding tribes. The raiders ride
kanks and strike swiftly once they have selected a
with the blood of his predecessor. Zeburon selects
his personal body guards from among his top offi-
target. There is no planning or style evident in their
actions. They simply attack and kill, then they take
cers. Rumors persist that these guards must first
whatever they can carry and disappear back into the
submit themselves to the defiler’s magic before they
wilderness. They try not to leave any survivors,
though in the confusion of their attacks, a few lucky
can assume their new posts.
The defiler, called Fevil in most accounts I heard,
individuals sometimes escape.
plays a major role in the life of the tribe. He is more
than just chief council to Zeburon. He is the dark
Zeburon’s raiders operate almost exclusively in
the Tablelands. They have been known to hit targets
soul that permeates the Black Sand Raiders, con-
as far north as the Dragon’s Bowl and as far south
juring visions of conquest to drive the marauders into a battle-frenzied state. His word is law in the
as Siren’s Song. They rarely travel into the Great
Ivory Plain, but there have been tales of them strik-
camp, for the tribe members fear him as much as or
ing caravans cutting across the sand wastes en route
more than they fear Zeburon. Few want to draw the
dark wizard’s attention, for he sometimes enlists
raiders to “assist’’ him in foul ceremonies.
to Tyr.
When not raiding for spoils, the marauders attack for the sheer pleasure of defeating and killing a
The rankings determine when a raider can take
his share of the spoils. Like a pride of lions after a
weaker enemy. They have also been known to engage in hunts, where they allow those they have cap-
kill, the high-ranking raiders take their fill before
tured a chance to escape. As long as the captives
those below them choose. The newest or weakest
among the raiders select last, which usually moti-
can keep ahead of the raiders, they can stay alive.
Once the raiders catch up with them, death comes
vates them to work their way up as soon as possible.
slowly and with as much pain as Zeburon and his
Operations and Means of Existence
followers can coax out of the victims.
Every story I have gathered speaks of Zeburon
personally leading every raid. He travels with a par-
The Black Sand Raiders have two methods of operation: they go on raids to acquire wealth and sup-
ty of 30 mounted warriors, and sometimes his defiler
accompanies him. They must make a fearsome
plies, and they go on raids to satisfy their primal
sight, riding kanks and wearing black cloaks and
urges to cause pain and spill blood. They have a
simple outlook on life. Whatever they need or want
hoods. How they stand the heat is beyond me, but
that only adds to the tribe’s supernatural trappings.
is theirs for the taking, they believe. It is theirs by
Zeburon and his followers fancy themselves as
right of strength, and more, by right of retribution.
Zeburon speaks of what Athas owes his raiders for
avenging spirits, but I see them as nothing more
than murderous thugs.
the years they suffered as slaves. Every raid the
Black Sand tribe undertakes is an attack against the
nobles and templars who once lorded over them.
50
Origin
Here the legend really takes a bizarre turn. The
origin of the Black Sand Raiders traces back many
years, to when a gladiator named Zeburon escaped
from Urik. In the arena, Zeburon learned to kill in
order to survive. He took that lesson to the extreme
while wandering the Tablelands, killing everyone he
came upon. His blood-stained trail finally led him to
an island of black sand in the middle of otherwise
barren terrain. The black sand shimmered evilly in
the morning sun, beckoning the one-time slave forward. He accepted the invitation.
Zeburon found that the black sand surrounded
the ruins of an ancient city. Some buildings jutted
from the sand, exposing partially intact structures of
strange design and unfathomable purpose. A pool
of water lay hidden amid the ruins, and Zeburon
drank deeply to quench his thirst. When he stood
up, he noticed a figure watching him from the shadowed opening of a crumbled tower. The gladiator
moved to deal with this intruder as he had dealt with
the others he had met in his travels, but he was
stopped in his tracks by arcane words and the tingle
of magic.
Zeburon could do nothing but listen to the figure
that stepped out to greet him. “I am Fevil,’’ the defiler said with an evil grimace. “I have been waiting
for you to arrive.” Zeburon listened as the defiler
told him of his visions of power and conquest. With
Zeburon to command their army and Fevil to commune with the ancient undead of the ruined city,
there was nothing they could not accomplish. After
a time, Zeburon became intrigued by the wizard’s
words. He accepted the proposal.
To prove his worth, however, Fevil demanded that
Zeburon survive a simple test. The defiler explained
that if the gladiator could enter the chambers below
the crumbled tower and emerge alive, then he was
worthy to lead the soon-to-be born Black Sand
Raiders.
What Zeburon encountered beneath the tower,
no one knows. According to the story I was told, he
not concern itself with defenses. There are no sturdy
was down there for a full day and a full night while
walls to hide behind, no formal militia to turn to.
Fevil waited above. When he finally emerged from the
shadow-filled doorway, Zeburon was wearing the iron
Instead, every raider protects himself until Zeburon
calls them all together. That is the way in the camp
helm and gauntlets that have become his trademark.
of the Black Sand.
It was only a matter of time before Zeburon attracted a group of followers. He appealed to the
The Ruins
barbaric and unscrupulous elements, cajoling them
Most of the strange, ancient buildings have crumbled into piles of rocks or have been totally buried in
with promises of unlimited wealth and unending excitement. Thus was the tribe of the Black Sand
fine, black sand. Those structures that jut out of the
Raiders born.
sand and offer some protection from the elements
are used by the ranking members of the tribe. One
Location and Defenses
small building remains almost completely intact,
The Black Sand Raiders make their camp in the
ruins of an ancient city, rumored to be located some-
and Zeburon uses this as his personal quarters. The
partially crumbled tower that leads to the caverns
where in the vicinity of Silver Spring in the area
below has become the defiler’s domain; there is no
called the Tablelands. The ruins rest within a pool
of black sand, from which the tribe takes its name.
one who cares to challenge him for the space.
The caverns under the ruins seem to go on forever.
Their camp is said to be a jumble of tents stretched
Only a small section of them have been mapped and
between the ruins, but some of the more privileged
raiders make their homes within the shattered and
explored by Fevil and Zeburon. Sometimes they send
a party of raiders into the depths to find ancient trea-
collapsing structures.
A number of factors work to protect the camp,
though few of them have anything to do with the
sures or to conduct some foul experiment for the defiler. Other times, the caverns are used to test new
members or to serve as punishment for those who
tribe. Most travelers have heard tales of the Black
have angered Zeburon. In either case, those who de-
Sand Raiders, so any who come upon an area of
black sand tend to leave the area immediately.
scend into the depths must be prepared to deal with
the denizens that wander the dark passages and
Those who haven’t heard of the raiders still tend to
haunt the strangely-designed chambers.
avoid the area, for black sand hints at things beyond
the natural world.
Black Sand Camp
The camp maintains a semblance of defenses,
most of which take the form of patrols. Patrols have
two purposes. The first is to guard the camp’s pe-
Map Keys
rimeter and provide ample warning of any threats
The following key describes the map of the
Black Sand camp.
from outside. The second is to guard the camp’s
interior, for occasionally something decidedly unfriendly emerges from the caverns below the ruins.
1. Fevil’s Tower: This partially crumbled tower
Often, the defiler can herd these nightmares back
into the depths. The patrols have been established
serves as the defiler’s personal domain. Within
for those times when he cannot turn them back, as
tower also serves as one of the entrances into the
the ancient walls he works his foul magic. The
well as to protect the tribe until he can be located.
chambers below.
Otherwise, it seems the Black Sand camp does
52
Beneath the Black Sand Camp
2. Zeburon’s Dwelling: This ruined building of
unknown purpose now serves as the personal
Map Key
dwelling and headquarters of Zeburon, leader of
The following key describes the map of the
the Black Sand Raiders. Leering creatures out of
nightmares decorate the outer walls of the struc-
chambers beneath the Black Sand camp.
ture in bas reliefs and statues.
1. Tower Basement: A spiral staircase leads
3. Prisoner Tent: Any prisoners taken in a raid
are kept in this tent until needed. Prisoners in-
from Fevil’s tower into this large basement chamber. The chamber is constructed from stone as
clude slaves who may be allowed to join the tribe,
black as the sand that covers the ruins above.
nobles taken for ransom, and sacrifices to be used
by the defiler to appease the undead beneath the
2. Ancient Crypts: This roughly carved chamber has a dirt floor. A film of black sand covers
the hard-packed dirt. Stone crypts fill the cham-
ruins.
4. Weaponsmith’s Tent: While the tribe does
not make any of its own weapons or armor, they
ber. Some ancient artifacts can be found in and
around these crypts, but those who seek them
must overcome the skeletons that guard this place
do need to keep what they take in good repair
until new items can be acquired. The weaponsmith, an ex-slave who learned his skill in an arti-
of the dead.
3. Ancient Crypts: Like chambers 2 and 5, this
chamber houses a few stone crypts. Unlike the
san camp in Raam, is charged with keeping the
raiders’ weapons sharp and strong from raid to
raid.
others, these crypts have all been broken into and
looted.
5. Treasure Tent: All treasure taken in raids,
4. Passage Cavern: This cavern connects to a
from money to weapons to textiles, is stored in
this tent.
series of tunnels that lead to similar chambers beneath the other ruins. The tunnels also lead to
entrances to the surface. The iron door that rests
6. Cooking Tent: Food for the camp is prepared and served here over great cooking fires.
partially open is covered with arcane icons from
7. Tent of the Elite: Zeburon’s personal guards
the ancient world.
make their home in this large, spacious, well-
5. Ancient Crypts: This roughly carved cham-
appointed tent.
ber has a dirt floor. A film of black sand covers
8. Ruins: These crumbling, almost completely
the hard-packed dirt. Stone crypts fill the chamber. Some ancient artifacts can be found in and
buried ruins are covered with fine black sand.
Not even the defiler can guess at the original purpose of these buildings, but many of them con-
around these crypts, but those who seek them
tain secret entrances to the chambers beneath the
must overcome the zombies that guard this place
of the dead. A passage in the northern wall leads
camp.
to the chambers beneath the other ruins and to
entrances to the surface.
53
54
55
6. Well Chamber: An ancient well, long-since
dried out, rests in the northwestern corner of this
ancient ruins. A forking passage leads to the ruins and to entrances to the surface.
chamber. The well leads to unexplored levels far-
13. Throne Room: Great pillars line the walls
ther below the ground.
of this throne room, and a great throne rests
along the southern wall. Tattered tapestries hang
7. Bone Chamber: This natural chamber, complete with irregular columns of rock that stretch
on the walls, but whatever images once adorned
from floor to ceiling, has a carpet of ancient
bones. Some of the bones have crumbled to dust,
them have long-since faded. The throne is the
regular haunt of Er’Thork, the raaig that rules
while others stick up white and shiny from the
these ancient chambers. A secret door leads to
powder-covered ground.
stairs that drop deeper into the bowels of Athas.
8. Ancient Altar: This ancient temple has rows
of stone benches set before a black altar. The al-
Relations with Others
tar, obviously dedicated to some ancient god of
evil, is decorated with nightmare carvings of crea-
Zeburon considers everyone who is not a part of
his tribe to be an enemy. He conducts his affairs as
tures that no longer walk the surface of Athas.
though he was still fighting in the gladiatorial are-
9. Fountain Chamber: A fountain fills the
western half of this chamber. The fountain fea-
nas, following the law of kill or be killed. Every other
tribe exists for only one purpose—to provide for the
tures a large obsidian bowl. Black water spills
needs of Zeburon and the Black Sand Raiders. For
from the gaping, tooth-filled maw of a nightmare
creature with evil wings sculpted from a single
this reason, few settlements have any formal agreements with the raiders. Instead, most simply hope
that the Black Sand tribe never comes to call on
piece of obsidian. The water seems to have no
source or drain, yet it never ceases, nor does it
spill out of the bowl. Drinking the water has
them.
The Black Sand tribe’s nearest neighbors keep a
killed many of the initiates Zeburon has sent
watchful eye for signs of the marauders. Altaruk,
down here, but their bodies have been dragged
away by the walking undead.
for example, has not been directly attacked by the
raiders, but a few of their caravans have fallen. Al-
10. Rubble-Strewn Room: Various items can
taruk is a powerful deterrent to the marauders, and
be found in the heaps of rubble scattered about
this room, including objects made of metal. Some
Zeburon hates the client village with all his dark
heart. On more than one occasion, Zeburon has
are broken, some whole. A few are even thought
had to call off his raiders because of the appearance
to be magical.
of a heavily armed escort from Altaruk.
Despite the size of its army and the strength of its
11. Rubble-Strewn Room: See 10 above, but
walls, Altaruk is regularly destroyed by giants from
note that a secret door is located in the southern
the Forked Tongue Estuary. Zeburon watches for
these attacks, for while the village is being rebuilt his
wall.
12. Treasure Chamber: This large natural
chamber is littered with ancient treasures collect-
raiders have free reign over the area.
Silver Springs, on the other hand, cannot hope to
hold back Zeburon’s raiders (or at least the elven
ed by Er’Thork, a raaig (see the “Important
Tribe Members’’ section) that lords over these
chief whose tribe settled here believes this to be the
56
case). He opens his oasis to the raiders whenever
raid on slave market caravans for the express pur-
they wish to use it, suffering under the humiliation
pose of acquiring fresh slaves.
and pain they cause in return for his life. One day
When the defiler extends an invitation to a slave,
Zeburon may kill the elves and loot the storehouse
the slave must agree to join the tribe on the spot.
of silver that supposedly lies hidden here. Until
Even a moment’s hesitation brings swift death from
then, he and his followers will continue to use it as a
resting stop.
the defiler or his raiders. There have been rare instances of slaves actually coming to the raiders in
order to join them. At least one small slave tribe
Joining the Tribe
merged with the Black Sand camp in order to survive, but mostly the defiler goes out to find his own
Zeburon constantly seeks new members for the
recruits. Of course, certain prisoners are sometimes
Black Sand Raiders. The lifestyle they lead and the
brought back to the camp for entertainment pur-
methods used for determining the tribe’s hierarchy
poses or to give to the undead in the caverns below
make life among the lower ranks exceedingly short.
the ruins. Once in a great while a recruit is found
However, the fact that they instantly attack anyone
among these wretches.
Only slaves may join the Black Sand tribe, and
who wanders into their domain makes finding new
members rather difficult. Zeburon leaves the re-
only warriors usually survive the rigors of testing.
cruitment of new members to Fevil. The defiler has
Tests of loyalty, courage, and strength vary, but
most usually include a trip into the caverns beneath
an uncanny knack for knowing when the tribe will
need new blood, and he magically searches for suit-
the Black Sand ruins. If the potential recruit can
able prospects. Sometimes the defiler even leads a
make it out of the depths alive, he is granted full
57
status as a member of the raiding tribe. If he man-
he won in the depths. The iron helm covers his en-
ages to emerge with some bit of treasure from the
tire head. His eyes sparkle malevolently from within
past, he may be offered a position of power in the
camp’s hierarchy. If he does not emerge, then the
the shadows of the thin, menacing slit that cuts
across the helm’s front. Strange designs etched into
defiler wishes the denizens of the deep a happy meal
its sides mark it as something from another age. The
and sends in the next potential member.
designs may be magical in nature, but so far there
have been no special powers attributed to the helm
Important Tribe Members
or its matching gloves. The gloves are iron gauntlets
that fit snugly over Zeburon’s hands. He wears no
Zeburon
Human Gladiator, Chaotic Evil
other armor or clothing, save a breechcloth, sandals, and a short black cloak. He wields a sword of
Armor Class 7
Movement 12
Str 17
Dex 16
Level 7
Con 16
Hit Points 67
THAC0 7
Int 14
Wis 12
No. of Attacks 3/2
Cha 14
sharpened bone.
The ex-gladiator is quite mad, but that does not
hamper his ability to lead. Of course, he leads his
tribe down his own dark paths of madness. He
craves battle and has a fierce blood lust that must
constantly be sated. He hates all those who are not
slaves, for they turned him into what he has become.
He hates all slaves, for that was what he learned in
Damage/Attack: 1d8+6 (bone long sword, -1 to
attack roll)
the arena. Consequently, Zeburon hates everyone
and everything. Someday that hatred will consume
him, but until then he satisfies some of his foul urges
through the actions of the Black Sand Raiders.
Psionic Summary: PSP 52; Wild Talent-Danger
Sense (PS Wis-3; Cost—4 + 3/turn)
Fevil
Zeburon became leader of the Black Sand Raid-
Human Defiler, Lawful Evil
ers in much the same way as all of its members
joined the tribe: he survived the tests of the caverns
beneath the Black Sand ruins. While he is the leader of the tribe, which he rules through the strength
of his iron-gloved fists, he follows the advice of the
defiler, Fevil.
The ex-gladiator approaches all situations from
Armor Class 7
Str 15
Movement 12
Dex 17
Level 10
Hit Points 42
Con 16
Int 22
THAC0 17
Wis 17
No. of Attacks 1
the perspective of the arena. Everything is a game,
but a deadly game. The winner of the game lives to
Cha 8
Damage/Attack: 1d6+1 (bone quarterstaff)
fight again, while the loser simply dies. He sees all
opponents in these terms, believing that if he does
not kill them first, they will surely kill him. He rules
Fevil has his own agenda, which Zeburon and his
raiders unwittingly help him to follow. He lets the
the raiders in the same way. If any of his followers
ex-gladiator think he is in command, for the slaves
question his orders, he swiftly kills them and asks if
would never agree to follow a wizard. What the de-
anyone else cares to disagree.
filer needs the slaves for has yet to be determined,
Zeburon does not talk about his encounters be-
and he refuses to give any hints to those who may
neath the ruins, but he proudly wears the trophies
58
one day oppose him.
group of slaves bound for the city-state of Nibenay.
The defiler stumbled upon the ruins within the
Because of the behavior of halflings in captivity, Lo-
pool of black sand long before Zeburon arrived. He
knew that unlimited power awaited him in the ca-
kee was scheduled to be sold directly to the gladiatorial arena where his death could bring a few laughs
verns beneath the ruins, but he was unable to ex-
to the crowds. When Fevil and his raiders attacked
plore very much of the depths. While his personal
the caravan and freed the halfling, he eagerly
agreed to undergo whatever test the wizard decreed.
power was great, the foul denizens of the deep could
overpower him if they attacked in force. So he bided
From what he could see, the Black Sand Raiders
his time, studying the areas that were open to him.
There are those who claim that Fevil communes
was the kind of tribe he wanted to join.
The halfling refuses to discuss his past, other
with one or more of the creatures living beneath the
than to say he is no longer welcome in the Forest
ruins. Some say he gets his powers from a farreaching evil out of Athas’s past. Others say that
Ridge. Some speculate he may have done the
unforgivable-eaten halfling flesh.
his powers come from the records the ancients left
Now Lokee ranks as one of the most privileged
behind. The wizard will not comment either way.
Fevil is a short, plump man with graying hair and
members of the tribe. His cruelty, fighting skills,
and evil personality make him the equal of most of
an unkempt beard. He is as cruel and evil as Ze-
the camp’s officers. In fact, Lokee has served Ze-
buron, but much more cunning and calculating.
While Zeburon acts on instinct and in response to
buron faithfully for more than a year now. Few of
the other officers can make such a claim.
his own madness, Fevil acts according to a carefully
The halfling warrior especially likes engaging in
laid out plan. When the details of that plan are finally revealed, the defiler’s true nature will also be
hunts, for they remind him of his youth spent in the
western forests. Sometimes Zeburon even lets him
revealed. However, by that time it may be too late.
keep one of his catches so that he may satisfy his
Lokee
craving for intelligent flesh.
While Lokee follows Zeburon’s orders without
Halfling Fighter, Chaotic Evil
question, he much prefers the company of the defil-
A rmor Class 4 (carru leather)
er. He can only learn so much about killing and
plundering from the ex-gladiator, while he is sure
Movement 6
Str 15
Dex 13
Level 6
Hit Points 33
C o n 15
Int 1 6
Er’Thork
THAC0 15
W i s 14
Raaig, Lawful Evil
No. of Attacks 1
C h a 13
that the defiler can teach him how to be truly evil.
Damage/Attack: 1d6 (iron short sword)
Armor Class 0
Movement 6
Level 11
THAC0 10
No. of Attacks 1
Psionic Summary: P S P 4 8 ; W i l d T a l e n t A drenalin Control (PS Con-3; Cost—8 + 4/
Damage 1d10
Er’Thork is an ancient undead creature known as
a raaig. This incorporeal spirit haunts the chambers
round)
Lokee is a halfling in whom Fevil recruited into the
beneath the Black Sand camp, still paying homage
to dark gods that no longer exist on Athas.
Black Sand Raiders. He was part of a captured
The raaig has allowed the defiler Fevil to form an
59
uneasy alliance with it, thus providing the creature
do not raise slaves. They simply secure and package
with a pawn in the living world. It grants the defiler
them for market.
some hints of the magic of the ancients, but only
enough to keep him interested. Someday Er’Thork
An escaped slave will know the Stalkers (or Werrib House, if you prefer) when he encounters them,
hopes to steal the defiler’s body, though it knows
for they have adopted a tribal identity through simi-
that the evil wizard has plans of his own.
Er’Thork can be damaged only by weapons
forged from iron. In addition, the raaig can use
lar clothing and hair styles. In fact, a Stalker has no
hair at all save for a long braid that falls back from
the top of the head. This braid is adorned with bits
death gaze at will against its opponents. A successful touch drains 1d4 points of Intelligence from its
of bone and twisted tightly into a single tail. Otherwise, the entire head is shaved bald. Both male and
victims, and it can control lesser undead (like zom-
female band members adopt this style upon accept-
bies and skeletons) at will.
ance into the tribe. In addition, all tribe members
wear at least one piece of mekillot-hide armor. The
Werrik’s Stalkers
higher a member’s position in the tribe, the more
mekillot-hide armor he wears.
The tales associated with Werrik’s Stalkers range
from the disturbing to the frightening. Slaves hunt-
In the Tyr region, as in much of the world of
Athas I fear, there are those who make their fortune
at the expense of others. Perhaps the most con-
ing slaves is a concept the sorcerer-kings must truly
love, for who else could conceive of such an evil iro-
temptible of these types are those who deal in slaves.
From independent tribes to organized merchant
ny? If you are an escaped slave and the Stalkers
houses, many people make their living by hunting,
catch your scent, you will find it extremely difficult
to shake them. Not only are they persistent, but
raising, and selling slaves. The absolute worst of
these, in my opinion, are the ex-slaves who have
they think like runaway slaves because they are run-
turned to the slave trade as a means of retaining
away slaves. They know all of the tricks and hiding
places. At times, it almost seems as though they
their own freedom.
Werrik’s Stalkers fall into this category. The ex-
know your thoughts before you do. When you turn
slaves of this tribe call themselves the Stalkers, but
around, a Stalker is already there. When you find a
place to hide, a Stalker finds it, too.
their leader prefers the name Werrik House, believing that it gives the tribe a legitimacy and the same
Werrik’s Stalkers consist of some 30 ex-slaves.
The nomads travel together in a caravan made up
of a huge wheeled slave pen dragged by a tempera-
prestige allotted to the great merchant houses. The
only thing the more-lofty name accomplishes is to
call attention to the fact that Werrik’s band is noth-
mental mekillot, a dozen or so banks, and a few
ing trying to be something. The Stalkers, no matter
small wagons full of supplies. When on the hunt,
the tribe makes camp anywhere. When they have a
what name they go by, remain nothing more than a
nomadic tribe of one-time slaves who have taken up
choice, they prefer to set up camp in the vicinity of a
the whips and shackles of their masters to use
village where they regularly do business.
Werrik’s Stalkers are evil. As an ex-slave, I feel
against other slaves.
Werrik’s band, like so many of its ilk, does not
specialize in one aspect of the slave trade. The tribe
that their business and way of life are abominable.
They may see what they do as their only chance of
remaining free, but that does not excuse the sheer
prides itself on hunting down runaway servants, as
well as securing new slaves for sale at markets. The
joy the Stalkers take in a good hunt, or the pleasure
two services that the Stalkers refuse to handle are
specialized slave training and slave farming—they
they obviously receive from playing masters to their
60
captured slaves.
ator could defeat one of her hunt masters in one-on-
Organization
slave across the Ringing Mountains? Probably not.
But Werrik is careful to include military officers in
one combat, but could the gladiator track a fleeing
The female bard Werrik leads the Stalkers. As
her hierarchy so that the warrior classes remain hap-
their best tracker, she can find an escaped slave’s
py. Even these ranks are determined by Werrik, who
assigns them according to who she thinks will do a
trail even after her hunters have lost it. While her
fighting skills are formidable, her leadership is
better job. As long as the Stalkers remain a special-
based more on her cunning and sense of vision.
ized band of slave hunters, Werrik’s system of advancement according to skills will be the rule.
When the previous leader of their tribe could no
longer provide for their needs, Werrik stepped forward with her ideas. As long as she continues to
Operations and Means of Existence
provide her brand of leadership-a leadership that
has seen the tribe grow strong and prosper-
Werrik’s Stalkers travel from villages to outposts
Werrik’s tribe will remain loyal and devoted to her
in their caravan, bringing slaves to market or taking
cause.
While ideas and direction-setting visions do wonders as far as keeping the tribe motivated, the Stalk-
on contracts to locate and secure runaways. If business has been slow, the band even accepts cargo
hauls, agreeing to move slaves from one location to
ers still are, at heart, a tribe of ex-slave raiders. As
such, the tribe’s leader needs some muscle to keep
another for a sizable fee.
With the frequency of escapes and deaths among
the raiders in line. This is provided by Werrik’s two
the slave population, and with the demand for larg-
lieutenants, Doorub and Bontar. Doorub, a huge
half-giant, uses his great strength to enforce Werrik’s orders and keep her safe. Bontar, a dwarf
er work forces in the cities, there is a constant need
for new slaves. Through the inattention of negligent
psionicist, serves as Werrik’s chief advisor, using his
particular gifts to judge the mood of the tribe, ferret
pedes, the efforts of raiding tribes, or through some
trick of their own, slaves escape from bondage all
out malcontents, and even subdue difficult prey who
the time. This leads to a deficit in the servile popula-
otherwise might be wounded or killed by the Stalkers.
tion, and thus in a shortage of able-bodied laborers.
Add to the number of runaways all of the slaves who
guards, unexpected distractions like erdlus stam-
Other ranking members of the tribe include the
die of natural causes or because of the hardships of
pen keeper and the hunt masters. The pen keeper’s
job is to guard and feed the captured slaves, making
their duties, and suddenly the need for a constant
supply of new slaves becomes clear. When you fig-
sure they stay relatively healthy until they reach mar-
ure in the number of fresh slaves needed to keep up
ket. The hunt masters conduct the hunts for escaped slaves and the searches for sources of new
with the increasingly larger and more ambitious projects of the sorcerer-kings, it becomes easy to see why
slaves. They take command of small hunting parties
the efforts of the official slave suppliers must be sup-
and break off from the main caravan to conduct
their searches. These parties usually never include
plemented by tribes like the Stalkers.
When the merchants cannot keep up with the de-
more than six hunters, for they must be fast and
mand, they turn to Werrik House and other
stealthy to accomplish their work.
While combat sometimes determines a member’s
freelance suppliers. The fact that Werrik and her
band were once slaves does not matter to the mer-
position in the Stalkers, Werrik prefers to appoint
chants as long as they can provide lots of able
ranks according to a person’s abilities. A mul gladi-
bodies. If the slave merchants ever decided that the
61
Stalkers were not doing everything they could to
are more vulnerable than those who travel the
meet demand, then they would simply take what
wastes. Wandering tribes, merchant caravans, even
slaves they needed from the ranks of the Stalkers
themselves. So it behooves the band to keep their
other raiders can easily find themselves locked within the wheeled pen if they are not careful. Even
pen well stocked.
heavily protected caravans can be taken while most
One way the Stalkers stock their slave pen is by
seizing people. When the Stalkers come across travelers or small settlements, they overpower as many
of their members sleep. In fact, Werrik likes to take
a camp while it sleeps, for she loses less stock that
way. Even if they must kill the guards who are on
of the people as they can. This is done either by
outright force (if the Stalkers significantly outnum-
watch, the Stalkers still have a crowd of sleepers for
the pen.
ber their targets or obviously appear stronger), or by
Of course, Werrik never stocks her pen near the
guile and cunning (if the target settlement is strong
or well-defended). The band is careful not to kill too
villages or outposts she wants to sell to. For example,
many of the targets, for the dead usually make poor
if the Stalkers are planning to trade at the outposts
slaves. Instead, they use nets and blunt weapons to
entangle and knock their targets unconscious.
near Raam and Draj. This greatly reduces the possibility of losing stock to angry relatives.
it is much better to procure stock from around Balic
If they attack in force, the Stalkers take all of the
Another service the Stalkers provide to paying
people they can jam into their wheeled slave pen, as
customers involves recovering runaway slaves. As
long as the slaves are recent escapees and the Stalk-
well as all of the plunder they can carry. Those who
cannot be taken are left to go on with their lives.
ers have no pressing business, Werrik will take on
Werrik believes that if the Stalkers leave the remain-
bounty contracts. Escaped muls make for the most
der to rebuild, then they can return at a later date to
lucrative contracts, but they are also the most dangerous targets to capture. She sends small bands to
find a fresh supply of potential slaves.
If they use guile and cunning, the Stalkers move
the caravan away from the target settlement and
track and locate the runaways, then moves in with
the full tribe to round them up. Werrik accepts
send in a small strike force to find weaknesses they
bounty contracts only on slaves who have escaped
can exploit. The strike force might simply sneak into
the settlement and open the gates for the rest of the
within a week of the contract. Runaways who escaped more than 15 days (an Athas week) ago have
band. Or they might slip in and taint water and
either died or hooked up with a tribe. Either way,
food supplies to cause painful but short-lived illnesses. The Stalkers have even been known to ap-
their trail is probably too cold and their recovery too
difficult to make the contract worthwhile.
proach a settlement openly, claiming to be traveling
A final service provided by Werrik House is safe
merchants. As most out-of-the-way settlements welcome merchant caravans for the news and goods
transport of slaves from one location to another.
Usually, a merchant house outpost will hire Wer-
they bring, this trick often gets the Stalkers past a
rik’s pen to move slaves to a temporary auction vil-
settlement’s most formidable defenses. After that, it
is a relatively easy matter for them to round up as
lage. As Werrik and her band have experience
handling slaves on long journeys, they are often
many people as they can haul away.
trusted with this kind of job. Of course, it frees up a
The procurement of slaves by raiding small villages and settlements provides the Stalkers with large
merchant’s caravans and mercenaries for other
trips, which also makes it an appealing arrange-
numbers of stock. They also build inventory for a
ment.
slave auction by capturing travelers they meet. Few
62
wanted to put as much distance between the shat-
Origin
tered outpost and herself as quickly as possible.
Her dark mood never truly lightened, for Werrik
Werrik hated life as a slave. She much preferred
her life before her bondage, when she roamed the
continued to have nightmares of her time as a slave.
uncivilized wilderness freely. Unfortunately, her
She joined a slave tribe for the protection it offered,
roaming led her to an outpost that was in dire need
of slave labor. She never even found out which city-
but soon became disillusioned with the tribe’s leadership. The tribe was dying, for while the leader was
state or merchant house sponsored the outpost.
the strongest fighter among them, he had no sense
They simply arrested her and put her to work making mud bricks. Suddenly her freedom was gone,
for leadership or planning. With the help of
Doorub and Bontar, Werrik took command of the
and Werrik’s spirit darkened. After a few failed es-
tribe and gave it new purpose. To stay free, she de-
cape attempts and seemingly endless weeks of hard
labor,
Werrik
lost
the
happy-go-lucky
nature
cided, they would have to make sure their former
owners were content. As long as the owners had
that
had been so much a part of her character. She gave
enough slaves to meet their needs and desires, then
in to the hopelessness of her situation.
the members of Werrik’s tribe would retain their
freedom. The best way to assure this was to become
However, other events would coincide to change
Werrik’s life. One day the outpost was attacked by
a supplier of slaves.
giants. When the surprise attack was over, Werrik’s
It took time to train her band to become expert
stalkers, and to build up enough wealth to outfit
captors were either dead or scattered, and the slaves
that remained alive were free. Hardly believing her
their caravan. The tribe came to call itself Werrik’s
good fortune, Werrik struck out into the desert. She
Stalkers, though Werrik discourages this name. She
63
prefers the more legitimate-sounding title of Werrik
if the attackers have been sufficiently weakened, the
House, for it conjures visions of the grandest and
kank riders strike quickly. If not, the defenders all
most trustworthy merchant establishments in the
Tyr region. Even with a lofty name and a mekillot-
take their places on and around the great pen, using
it for protection.
drawn slave pen, Werrik had to build her tribe’s
When the caravan stops to set up camp, tents are
reputation a piece at a time.
Werrik House started as a band of bounty
set up beside the pen. Guards are placed throughout the night, as well as ranging patrols that can
hunters, recovering escaped slaves for a fee. The
provide advance warnings of danger. Werrik never
merchant houses first saw the benefit in using Werrik’s Stalkers. Many of the tribe’s earliest and most
wants to find herself or her people again on the
wrong side of shackles and whips, and she knows
lucrative contracts came from the merchants. When
how quickly a village can recant its hospitality.
the leader of Jarko House suggested Werrik consider finding him new slaves for his gladiator train-
The tribe operates throughout the Tyr region,
making the circuit around the perimeter of the Sea
ing camps, her future course was determined. Now
of Silt from Balic to Draj and back again as often as
Werrik House is welcome in villages, outposts, and
caravan camps for the services it provides. Some-
they can. Sometimes they range far afield to find
new sources of slaves, but mostly they stay within the
area bounded by the Ringing Mountains to the
times Werrik even conducts her own auctions instead of selling slaves directly to slave merchants.
west, the Sea of Silt to the east, Siren’s Song to the
south, and Yaramuke to the north.
Location and Defenses
Relations with Others
Werrik’s Stalkers, or Werrik House, is a nomadic
tribe. It has no permanent settlement to protect. It
Werrik House maintains good relations with most
does have the caravan, however. The caravan con-
of the merchant houses, as they all require a con-
sists of over 30 hunters, warriors, and slave tenders
who work together to guard their precious cargo
stant supply of slaves. House Jarko is a particularly
close associate. Those merchants who run their own
from desert scavengers. The central piece in the caravan is the great wheeled slave pen and the mekillot
that pulls it. There are also more than a dozen
slave-gathering operations tolerate Werrik and her
kanks and few small wagons in the caravan.
own efforts for a scheduled auction. If these slave
The great slave pen is a long box with wheels. The
fortified pen features armored sides and platforms
gatherers wind up vying for the same catch as Wer-
that can hold defenders. On top of the pen sits a
ble solution. If the merchant house gatherers
swivel crossbow nest. A single defender can simultaneously fire two braces of six crossbows each in a
cedes the catch to them. If she has the upper hand,
single volley, but he must then manually reload
she negotiates a settlement. Even when dealing from
them before firing again. The pen itself is divided
into three interior compartments: two large holding
a position of power, Werrik is careful not to create
bad feelings with the merchant community.
pens and a smaller pen that usually serves as a hold-
The Stalkers trade freely with the client villages of
ing for captured runaways.
Werrik’s band has become quite adept at defend-
Balic, Draj, and Nibenay. Their dealings with the
client villages of Gulg and Raam are sporadic at
ing their caravan. When attackers approach, a vol-
best, and they only approach these areas after
ley of crossbow bolts rains down upon them. Then,
checking on the mood and climate of the templars
band, sometimes even purchasing from her stock
when they have not acquired enough through their
rik’s band, the two groups try to come to an agreeaoutnumber Werrik’s hunters, she graciously con-
64
most other slave tribes treat ex-slaves with friendli-
and nobles. Their transactions with Urik’s outposts
are the most lucrative of all. The outposts pay well
ness and offer them hospitality, a Stalker offers only
for slaves to help meet the needs of the city-state.
Urik needs more and more slaves to work the obsidi-
the comfort of the great wheeled pen and a ride
back to slavery.
an quarries since Tyr stopped producing iron.
Someone singled out as a possible candidate is of-
Without the tools made from Tyr’s iron, Urik’s
quarry workers quickly become useless as the sharp
fered a chance to join the Stalkers. If he accepts, the
candidate undergoes a series of tests designed to
rock slices their hands to ribbons.
measure his desire to be free, his loyalty to Werrik
and the Stalkers, and his hunting and fighting
skills.
The band stays away from the city-states themselves, for they would quickly be taken as slaves
One test that Werrik enjoys can mean immediate
within the confines of the thick walls.
slave tribes consider Werrik’s Stalkers to be their
membership or immediate late failure, depending upon
how the candidate responds. Without the candi-
Finally, the independent settlements and the other
mortal enemies. As long as the Stalkers continue to
date’s knowledge that a test is being conducted,
trade in intelligent flesh, they remain a threat to exslaves everywhere.
Werrik allows one of the candidate’s fellow slaves to
Joining the Tribe
slave the candidate seemed closest to before he was
offered membership. If the candidate takes the escapee back to the pen, he is awarded membership.
escape. This escape occurs while the candidate is on
guard duty, and the escapee is usually whichever
New members do not come easily to Werrik’s
Stalkers. The tribe of slave traders accepts only ex-
If he lets the escapee go free, both he and the runaway are returned to the pen.
slaves into their ranks, but as most slaves who come
to them wind up as merchandise within their hold-
Werrik never off membership trials to the run-
ing pen, the line between potential members and po-
aways she has been contracted to find. To do so
would be a breach of her agreement with the contractor, and as such would be considered bad busi-
tential profit often blurs. Still, Werrik desperately
understands the need to keep her tribe vital and
strong through the introduction of new members.
ness.
Once a candidate passes all of the tests or otherwise impresses the Stalkers, he is awarded full mem-
The Stalkers never consider the stock they capture from small settlements for membership. Nor do
they accept offers from those who openly walk into
bership in the tribe. He receives his first piece of
mekillot armor (usually an arm or leg pad) and is
their camp. More than likely, the ex-slave who wanders into their fire light (if he somehow makes it that
allowed to shave his head in tribal fashion. From
far without finding a sharp bone dagger in his back)
then on, he is marked as a member of Werrik House
and receives all of the benefits and responsibilities
is unceremoniously dumped into the holding pen
with the rest of the merchandise.
that go along with the position.
The candidates with the best shot at becoming
part of Werrik’s band are those who probably wanted nothing to do with them in the first place. When
Important Tribe Members
Werrik
Human Bard, Neutral Evil
the Stalkers raid another slave tribe for new stock,
Werrik and her chief lieutenants keep watch for
those who want freedom at any cost. A Stalker must
Armor Class 2 (mekillot hide)
Movement 12
be willing to go against the usual practices of exslaves in order to keep his own freedom. For while
65
Str 19
Dex 19
Level 7
Hit Points 35
THAC0 11
No. of Attacks 1
now her definition of good, and everything not of
Con 15
Int 17
the Stalkers is evil—especially slavery.
Wis 20
Cha 16
To keep, her freedom, Werrik has turned her tribe
of ex-slaves into slave hunters and traders. By working with the evil and feeding it, she hopes to keep it
Damage/Attack: 1d10+7 (iron two-handed
sword)
away from her and her band. Of course, every day
that she continues down this path leads her closer to
the darkness she fears. Even now, her alignment
swings farther and farther along the path of evil.
Werrik’s view of the world has changed since she
first became a bard. Then she was free, and the
Werrik has no plans to change her methods, for
they have kept her tribe safe and helped it to pros-
dark experience of slavery was in her future. Before
her time as a slave, she saw the world as a wondrous
place, and she knew that her role was to be a protec-
per. Her leadership abilities remain strong and she
tor of good. After she was forced into bondage and
But late at night when the nightmares come, more
made to work for cruel, evil owners, her views
changed. They became as dark as the cage she
and more often the dreams of confinement give way
to darker, fouler dreams. So far, she has been able to
commands the respect and admiration of her band.
found herself in, and her understanding of good al-
put these aside when the sun rises, but how much
so changed. When she finally won her freedom, she
swore that she would never let it be taken from her
longer she can continue to do so remains to be seen.
again. To that end, Werrik has become a protector
of her band and only her band. The Stalkers are
66
this time as student to the ancient teacher. The mas-
Bontar
Dwarf Psionicist, Lawful Evil
Armor Class 8 (leather)
ter psionicist taught as fast as Bontar could learn,
and when the old man died a few short years later,
the dwarf was ready to be on his own again.
Str 16
Dex 13
He joined up with a tribe of ex-slaves out of neces-
Level 7
Hit Points 40
Con 17
Int 18
sity sometime later, but soon grew frustrated with the
band’s ineffectual leader. When the bard named
THAC0 17
Wis 19
Werrik proposed a different solution to the tribe’s
problems, Bontar helped her “retire” the current
leader. He has served as her chief advisor and sec-
Movement 6
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 9
ond in command since that time.
Damage/Attack: 1d6 (stone hand axe, -2 to at-
Bontar is a quiet, brooding sort. He studies prob-
tack roll)
lems from all angles before offering advice. While
Psionic Summary: PSP 131; Disciplines—
Werrik sometimes becomes frustrated with his slow
Psycho kinesis, Psychometabolism, Telepathy;
responses, she values his carefully formulated opinions. The dwarf believes that there is poetic justice
Sciences—Disintegrate,
Death
Field,
Life
Draining, Probe; Devotions— Ballistic Attack, Control
in the fact that he and his fellow slaves are using the
system to protect themselves. He does not even care
that they have betrayed other slaves, as long as he
Body, Control Flames, Control Sound, Body Control, Body Weaponry, Enhanced Strength, Flesh
Armor, Heightened Senses, Awe, Inflict Pain, Send
can remain free to practice his psionic techniques.
The dwarf has long-range plans for the Stalkers,
and Werrik fits into them for as long as she remains
Thoughts; Defense Modes-Mind Blank, Thought
Shield, Mental Barrier, Intellect Fortress
an effective leader and does not have a change of
heart concerning their methods of operation. He
knows of the dark memories that motivate her. This
The dwarf Bontar helped Werrik assume leadership of the tribe that was to become Werrik’s Stalkers. He once served as a slave in a Gulg labor camp,
gathering food from the forest to satisfy the city’s
knowledge makes it extremely easy to influence her.
needs. He was a wild talent then, with a few impres-
Doorub
sive psionic powers at his command but without the
experience to use them. So he kept his ability a se-
Half-Giant Fighter, Chaotic Neutral
cret and did the jobs that were assigned to him.
A rmor Class 8 (mekillot)
When the day came to escape (thanks to a passing
herd of erdlus), Bontar went in search of a true
Movement 15
Dex 14
psionicist to teach him what he desperately needed
Level 5
Hit Points 54
Con 17
Int 9
to learn.
THAC0 13
Wis 8
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 9
It took almost a year of wandering before he fi-
Str 19
nally heard of a master psionicist living in the wilderness. It took most of another year to track him
down. When he finally reached the ruins where the
Damage/Attack: 1d6+7 (stone club)
psionicist lived, he found the ancient human waiting
Doorub is a half-giant who took an immediate liking to the bard Werrik when she first joined the
for him. Wary but full of an unbridled excitement,
Bontar placed himself into a new kind of bondage,
tribe. When she said she had a better way to run
67
things, Doorub decided to help her. Now he en-
Organized along strict military lines, Sortar’s Ar-
forces her orders and keeps her safe. No matter
where he is in their caravan or camp, he always has
at least one eye on his leader.
my is a ruthless, battle-crazed band of raiders.
The
half-giant
is
huge,
among
his
own
Fierce and destructive, Sortar’s warriors sweep
across the desert like a wild wind, ripping their in-
kind.
tended targets apart with all the rage and ferocious-
His legendary strength makes him a formidable
fighter, and his steadfast devotion to Werrik makes
ness of a sudden sand storm. For all of their
fierceness and berserk tendencies, this tribe directs
him a perfect bodyguard. He does not care for the
its anger and aggression at the city-states and the
brooding dwarf, and he does not understand why
Werrik tolerates his behavior. As long as she does,
caravans carrying goods between them. They tend
to leave other villages and small parties of travelers
however, Doorub will curb his natural tendencies
alone, unless these groups do something to incur
and simply wait for Bontar to make the wrong move.
Then he will flatten the little dwarf.
Sortar’s wrath.
Each member of this tribe bears tattoos that mark
Doorub trusts Werrik completely. He knows that
him as part of Sortar’s Army. These tattoos cover
Werrik would never lead him or the Stalkers astray.
Perhaps this blind faith that Doorub has in Werrik
relates to his treatment as a slave. He was worked
the face of each member, cutting dark diagonal
slashes from forehead to neck. In addition, each
member wears a shard of obsidian on his left ear.
nearly to death in Urik’s quarries and still bears the
scars to prove it. When he joined the tribe, things
The tribe consists of over 70 members. They travel the caravan trails atop fast-moving kanks, waiting
for city-state wagons. When they find a caravan,
did not get much better. The leader berated Doorub
at every opportunity, making him the butt of jokes
and cruel tricks. When Werrik joined the tribe, she
they attack quickly and with little regard for their
own safety. Stories a bound of Sortar’s Army taking
on larger, better armed opponents-and winning.
showed Doorub kindness. They became friends.
S h e was the first friend the half-giant can ever remember having. Friendship, he believes, like freedom, is too valuable to let slip away now that he
To other slaves, much of Sortar’s excessive violence can be forgiven, for it is directed at the city-
understands its worth.
step removed from the vile evil of the Black Sand
Raiders, and often the atrocities attributed to one
states and others who keep slaves. The tribe is one
Sortar’s Army
were done by the other. The big difference is that the
Raiders attack everyone with wild abandon, while
Sortar’s Army is engaged in a war against the city-
Some ex-slaves feel they are at war with the citystates, conducting small raids in hopes of someday
states. Of course, as in any war, innocents suffer
winning a major battle. Few have such grand visions
along with the enemy, but Sortar does not go out of
his way to slice up slave villages or to kill lone trav-
as to believe they can seriously cripple the city-states,
but they take satisfaction in each minor wound they
elers for the amusement of his band.
inflict. Most of these see each raid as a small payback for the years they spent in thrall to the
sorcerer-kings. One tribe takes this idea of war to a
Organization
more literal level, actually seeing its purpose as one
Sortar, a human fighter, serves as leader and warlord of the tribe. His leadership is based upon his
of waging war against the city-states. This tribe calls
itself Sortar’s Army, and it operates along the cara-
deadly combat skills and the vision he has brought
van trails from out of the mountains around Al-
to his followers. He promises them the wealth of the
sorcerer-kings and the blood of the owners. So far,
taruk.
68
he has made good on these promises. He gained his
ery. They do this by attacking and plundering the
skill working as a soldier slave in Balic, fighting
caravans that travel the roads between the city-
against raiding giants out of the Forked Tongue Estuary.
states. Sortar believes that everything within a citystate caravan was bought or built with the sweat and
As warlord of the tribe, Sortar has a grim deter-
blood of slaves. As such, it is only right that Sortar
mination akin to a dwarf’s focus. He sees his purpose in life as being the great enemy of the
and his army of ex-slaves be the ones to liberate
those goods from the clutches of the templars and
nobles, who only exist to grow fat on the labor and
city-states, and he has instilled this purpose in his
followers. The tribe does not raid to survive (though
that is how it gains the supplies it needs to continue
pain of the enthralled masses.
its war); it raids to strike back at the masters who
ranging along the known caravan trails. Their job is
once imprisoned them in the shackles of slavery.
Two of Sortar’s chief lieutenants are a half-elf
to find a suitable target, determine that it is in fact a
called Derrim and a mul called Porgo. Derrim
scouting parties that search for caravans or other
states, then send messengers to gather the rest of the
tribe. A few scouts remain to follow the caravan and
to direct the rest of the tribe to it when they arrive.
The warriors of Sortar’s Army ride swift-moving
potential targets. Once a target is identified, part of
the scouting party remains near it to track its course,
kanks. It falls to the scouts who selected a target to
determine its strength and defenses and to come up
while another part goes to gather the tribe.
with a plan of battle. These plans are usually simple
An ex-templar from Nibenay serves as one of
Sortar’s main advisors, even sitting in on councils of
affairs based upon the territory the caravan is riding
through and the number of guards protecting it. If
The tribe constantly has small scouting units
caravan bound for or coming from one of the city-
serves as Sortar’s second in command and is never
far from the warlord’s side. Porgo commands the
war. A number of wizards also work with the tribe.
ambush sites are available, Sortar’s Army makes
All of these wizards are preservers; the power they
provide often means the difference between victory
use of cover and strikes when the caravan is least
expecting it. If the caravan rides through open des-
and defeat for Sortar’s Army.
By its very nature, the tribe is a warlike, barbaric
lot. Battles settle every argument. Surprisingly,
ert, the tribal warriors use a surround-and-charge
tactic that cuts off escape and enables the full
strength of their army to be brought to bear.
though, few of these battles are to the death. Sortar
If the caravan carries slaves, Sortar’s tribe at-
provides enough outlets for the shedding of blood
with his constant state of war that the tribe members
tempts to set them free. Otherwise, they leave no
survivors to tell of their battle prowess. The tribe is
are content to settle their own differences in wres-
careful not to attack travelers who do not carry the
tling and brawls rather than with the sharp point of
a sword. Even positions within the tribe are deter-
spoils of nobles or templars with them. They-have
no wish to kill innocent ex-slaves, duped freemen, or
mined through contests of strength and skill,
villagers from settlements that do not practice slav-
though Sortar has been known to overturn the outcomes of some battles to promote those he feels will
ery. They are quick to slaughter nobles and templars when they find them, however.
Sortar’s Army operates throughout the Tyr re-
do a better job.
gion, though it concentrates its efforts around the
central Tablelands. Besides attacking city-state caravans, the tribe has been known to sweep down
Operations and Means of Existence
Sortar and his band wage war against the citystates of Athas that perpetuate the practice of slav-
upon city-state client villages and outposts, and it
69
has even made minor raids into the forest surround-
their own. One of his teachers, a templar called Ge-
ing Gulg and Nibenay. It does not limit its targets to
biz, took a particular fancy to the young slave. This
only the weak. Sortar’s Army has been known to
take on heavily guarded caravans and well-fortified
is not to say he liked Sortar or treated him well.
What he did do was fill the youth’s head with tales
client villages, using a combination of surprise,
of long-past wars and his own theories on how to
lightning-like strikes, and magic to gain the upper
hand.
destroy the other city-states. The templar loved to
talk, and Sortar obliged him by listening. And by
Everything the tribe needs to survive comes from
learning.
the caravans it raids. However, this is only a secondary benefit for the tribe. Its main purpose is to strike
One day Gebiz told Sortar about a slave revolt in
one of Balic’s client villages. He described the
out in any way that will hurt the templars and no-
bloody coup in graphic detail, for he knew the
bles. If the tribe also gains food, water, and supplies
as a result of its efforts, so much the better.
young slave appreciated such things. What he did
Make no mistake—Sortar’s Army is a blood-
for the rest of his life. In the story, Gebiz described
thirsty band of berserkers. However, they direct
most of their deadly impulses toward the agents of
how the foolish slaves tried to overpower the templar
overseers so that they could escape into the wilder-
the city-states, which makes them much less of a
ness. A few templars fell before the savage attack,
menace to the other slave tribes of the Tablelands
than the Black Sand Raiders.
but in the end the slaves died for their trouble. Sortar did not see these slaves as foolhardy, though. He
not know was that this story would stay with Sortar
saw them as brave, and he decided that someday he
would avenge their deaths by striking back at the
templars and nobles who enslaved them. Perhaps,
Origin
Sortar grew up as a slave in Balic, enduring the
he thought, he could even find a way to hurt the
same hardships as other slaves. He suffered ritual
sorcerer-kings.
Of all his duties as a soldier slave, Sortar most
beatings, was forced to work until he collapsed from
exhaustion, and put up with every humiliation a
loved the patrols into the mud flats. He was develop-
master may visit upon a slave. This was the life he
ing a lust for battle, and whenever a giant happened
ashore he rushed to engage it in combat. Soon he
was born to, and he knew no other.
In Balic, every freeman and slave must spend time
in the militia. The militia helps the regular army pa-
was among the best warriors Balic could field, and
Gebiz took credit for the youth’s development. On
one patrol, Sortar saw his opportunity to escape.
trol the mud flats around Balic, watching for signs
of approaching giants who regularly raid the area.
The patrol was surprised by a gang of giants coming
When Sortar’s turn came to join the militia, he dis-
out of a silt-filled channel. As the patrol moved to
engage the giants, Sortar buried his sword in the
covered his love of battle. Sortar had a knack for
combat and took to his training well. Even his com-
templar’s back. Gebiz, his eyes wide with surprise,
manding officer was impressed, and when the
died before he could cast a single spell. Sortar left
the rest of his companions to their battle as he
slave’s shift in the militia came to an end, he was
reassigned to the standing slave army.
struck out for the west.
As a soldier slave, Sortar learned everything his
His time alone in the desert helped Sortar formulate his plans for the future. He knew that when he
masters would teach him. He learned unarmed
combat. He learned to fight with a variety of weap-
killed the templar, he had declared war upon the
ons. And he learned strategy and concepts of wag-
city-states. All he needed now was an army to wage
ing war that few other slaves could ever imagine on
70
Location and Defenses
that war with. He joined up with a tribe of slaves
that made a living by raiding travelers approaching
Sortar’s Army makes its camp in the mountains
around Altaruk. The craggy mountain peaks serve
Grak’s Pool. Within a matter of weeks, he was
ready to challenge the half-elf leader for command
as the camp’s first line of defense. The trails up the
of the tribe. Sortar’s superior fighting prowess easily
mountain can be treacherous on their own, but the
tribe has added pit falls, rock slides, and other ob-
won him the job of tribe leader. With that victory
was born the tribe that would one day become Sor-
stacles to discourage visitors. Within the shattered
tar’s Army.
crater of one of the mountain tops, the tribe’s home
The first order of business for the new leader was
is an island surrounded by a pool of bubbling lava.
to stabilize his tribe and make it prosper. This was
Because of the protection offered by the crater and
done by engaging in a series of daring raids that
the lava pool, the tribe has not erected walls or permanent buildings. The tribe uses huge tents for
netted big profit with little loss of life. Then he began to outline his ideas for waging war against their
shelter. Each tent houses over a dozen warriors, de-
former masters, inflaming his followers with visions
pending on it size. The largest tents can comfortably shelter as many as 40 tribe members.
of templar and noble blood. More members were
added to the tribe, and a secure location for their
A series of stone bridges connects the island to the
base of operations was found in the mountains
crater wall. The innermost bridge can be pulled onto
the island to cut off access from the far side of the lava
around Altaruk.
pool. This is done as a defensive measure, and only as
a last resort, for the ex-slaves do not relish being
71
trapped in the middle of the bubbling lava.
To prevent such dire measures from being taken,
5. Warrior’s Tent: This tent shelters over 20 of
Sortar’s more experienced warriors.
the tribe maintains constant patrols in the surrounding mountains. If any sign of danger shows
itself, the tribe is mobilized for battle. The warriors
6. Porgo’s Tent: Porgo and his scouts call this
tent home. The mul and 15 of his best scouts
share this shelter, when they are not out looking
know all of the passages leading up to their island
home, and they can sweep down the narrow pas-
for a target to raid.
sages quickly to engage and encircle any threat.
The passages nearest the top of the lava crater are
7. Warrior’s Tent: This tent shelters nearly 20
of the tribe’s soldiers.
further protected by two catapults. Aimed down the
narrow approaches, these weapons can rain rocks
8. Warrior’s Tent: This tent shelters nearly 20
and rubble upon enemy forces, crushing them before they can bring large numbers to bear in the
of the tribe’s soldiers.
9. Supply Tent: Supplies taken in raids are
confined, canyon-like trails.
stored in these small tents.
Sortar’s Camp
Relations with Others
Map Key
Sortar’s Army treats everyone associated with
city-states as its enemies. This includes templars,
The following key describes the map of Sor-
nobles, client villages, outposts, and even merchants
tar’s camp.
who sell to the city-states. These folk suffer swift and
violent attacks if they cross the tribe’s path.
1. Crater Wall: The top of a mountain, shat-
passing below. It also makes a perfect position for
The tribe has an uneasy truce with the village of
Altaruk. Though the village is a regular stop for
caravans coming from and going to the city-states,
its connection with the Veiled Alliance makes it a
scouts and lookouts from the tribe.
sometime friend to slaves. Though the tribe has not
tered by an ancient volcanic explosion, serves as
the hidden location of Sortar’s camp. The crater
wall hides what lies within from the eyes of those
attacked the village itself, it does often prey upon the
caravans approaching and leaving the village’s
2. Lava Pool: This bubbling pool of lava surrounds an island of solid rock. The tribe makes
heavily fortified walls.
Sortar’s Army also has an understanding with
its camp on the island.
3. Stone Bridge: A series of stone bridges leads
the mercenaries guarding Grab’s Pool. As long as
from the island to the crater wall. The bridge
the tribe is allowed to use the facilities (which they
readily pay for) it leaves the mud-brick fortress in
closest to the island can be pulled in to cut off
access in times of dire emergency.
peace.
Other slave tribes, villages, and travelers are usually safe from Sortar’s wrath, unless they somehow
4. Sortar’s Tent: The largest tent on the island
houses Sortar, his chief advisors, and his personal
troop of warriors. Important meetings are held
reveal themselves as agents of the city-states. The
two exceptions to this are the Black Sand Raiders
and Weriik’s Stalkers. Sortar considers Werrik and
within this tent, as well as joyous celebrations and
councils of war.
her band to be as bad or worse than the templars
72
and nobles, and he has declared the slavers to be his
ever supplies the tribe can spare and sent on their
tribe’s mortal enemies. Sortar has sworn to destroy
way. Those who agree to the tests either become full
any member of Werrik’s band who ever crosses his
path. As for the Black Sand Raiders, Sortar sees
members of the tribe or die trying.
All of Sortar’s tests are geared toward determin-
them as dangerous thieves and murderers who kill
ing if an ex-slave is worthy and skilled enough to join
indiscriminately. He does not mind when they destroy those connected with the city-states, but he
his growing army. The tests are difficult and dangerous, often involving battling desert creatures, at-
does take exception to their preying on other slaves.
tempting risky quests, or even pitting combat skills
against his chief lieutenants.
Joining the Tribe
Important Tribe Members
Sortar needs a large army to eventually take his
war directly to the sorcerer-kings. More than likely,
Sortar
Human Fighter, Lawful Neutral
he will never be able to field an army large enough
or powerful enough to march on a city-state. That
does not stop him from trying, however.
Armor Class 4 (mekillot hide)
Movement 12
Str 20
Dex 16
Level 10
Con 16
they agree, they must undergo a few tests of battle
Hit Points 84
THAC0 8
Int 1 5
W i s 13
skill and loyalty. If they refuse, they are given what-
No. of Attacks 3/2
Cha 14
Whenever the tribe comes across captive slaves,
the first priority is to free them. Freed slaves are immediately given the option to join Sortar’s Army. If
73
Damage/Attack: 1d10+7 (bone long sword, -1
THAC0 14
Wis 18
to attack roll)
No. of Attacks 3/2
Cha 16
Sortar was born a slave in the city-state of Balic.
Damage/Attack: 1d8 (obsidian bastard sword, -2
His knack for combat techniques earned him a
to attack roll)
place as a soldier slave, and it was during this period
of his life that he came to understand the mission he
Psionic Summary: PSP 56; Wild Talent-Control
was destined to undertake. Tales of slave revolts in
Light (PS Int; Cost—12 + 4/round)
the client villages inspired him to eventually seek his
own freedom. Shortly thereafter, he began gathering
Derrim joined the tribe shortly after Sortar be-
a tribe of followers to serve as his army against the
came leader. He liked the idea of waging war against
city-states.
Some call Sortar’s quest a fool’s dream—but they
their former masters, even if he takes a more realistic
view of their chances than does Sortar. Derrim be-
do not call it that when he is close enough to hear.
lieves that they have little chance of doing anything
The huge and powerfully built human has dedicated himself and his tribe to a war they cannot
more than bloodying the figurative noses of the citystates, but he is more than willing to contribute his
hope to win. Sortar’s Army has made its main
share to the war effort.
course of action to battle and destroy whatever belongs to the templars and nobles. This includes car-
The half-elf ranger never actually served time as a
slave, though he was captured by slavers and bound
avans, client villages, and outposts across the Tyr
for the markets of Urik when Sortar and his tribe set
region.
The warlord has become very close to the ex-
him free. He was attracted to Sortar’s ideals, even
though he was less-than-enamored of his methods.
templar named Caletta. Some say they are even in
He quickly worked his way into a chief lieutenant
love- or at least that he is. But while he has become
very fond of her and even loves her in his own way,
spot in the tribe. Now he sees his post as a voice of
there is little room in his life for a true commitment,
reason and moderation to stem Sortar’s more violent tendencies.
other than the one he has already made to his private little war.
The half-elf uses his ranger skills to best advantage, finding water for the tribe, tracking caravans,
Sortar is obsessed with his war. His love for com-
and doing a host of other tasks. He also serves as
bat and his hatred of the templars and nobles have
combined to drive him to attempt reckless, heroic,
one of Sortar’s chief advisors, rarely leaving the
leader’s side for more than a few days at a time. He
and often crazy feats that no sane man would try.
does not get along with the mul, Porgo, for the glad-
As a result, he is respected and loved by his followers, and a little feared.
iator wants Sortar to give in to the tendencies Derrim tries to control. He also has little trust for the
ex-templar from Nibenay, but he attributes that
more to her past position than to her recent actions.
Derrim
Half-Elf Ranger, Chaotic Good
Derrim stands slightly shorter than six feet, has a
slim but muscular build, and has a wild mane of
Armor Class 4 (carru leather)
Movement 12
Str 16
Dex 18
Level 7
Con 14
Hit Points 38
light brown hair. He wields an obsidian bastard
sword and wears a suit of carru leather armor.
Int 16
74
that he now satisfies by killing templars, nobles, and
Porgo
Mul Gladiator, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class 2 (mekillot hide)
their agents. He does not get along with Derrim, for
the half-elf ranger tries to curb the mul’s desire to
Str 13
kill and destroy. Porgo feels the half-elf doesn’t un-
Movement 12
Dex 13
derstand that the only way to win Sortar’s war is to
Level 8
Hit Points 70
Con 20
Int 14
kill the owners before they can kill you.
THAC0 13
Wis 14
Caletta
No. of Attacks 3/2
Cha 10
Human Fighter, Lawful Evil
Damage/Attack: 1d8+6 (stone battle axe, -2 to
Armor Class 5 (carru leather)
attack roll)
Movement 12
Dex 17
Level 7
Hit Points 52
Con 15
Int 17
Porgo was a member of the tribe that eventually
Str 15
became Sortar’s Army. He was present when Sortar
THAC0 14
Wis 16
joined the tribe, and he witnessed the ridiculously
short battle in which Sortar took over leadership.
No. of Attacks 3/2
Cha 18
He decided that any human who could fight that
Damage/Attack: 2d4 (gythka)
well deserved a chance to be leader, and he has
served as one of Sortar’s chief lieutenants and advi-
Psionic Summary: P S P 3 6 ; W i l d T a l e n t - I n f l i c t
Pain (PS Con -4; Cost-Contact + 2/round)
sors ever since.
The mul once fought in the arena of Tyr, back
before the sorcerer-king was killed and the city fell
Caletta was once one of Nibenay’s templars. She
served her master well in his walled sub-city, even
into chaos. He found freedom as many slaves do—
strictly by luck and accident. His early days of freedom taught him that gladiatorial skills and strength
submitting to his occasional carnal desires. Her love
of evil was surpassed only by her love of power; serving Nibenay provided her with plenty of power and
the opportunity to use it for evil. She reveled in
of arms would get him only so far in the harsh wilderness of Athas. When the mul finally joined up
with a tribe of ex-slaves, he sought out anyone with
physical power, commanding large numbers of
lesser templars and slaves. She also reveled in priest-
knowledge of survival and wilderness skills. His ob-
ly power, using all of the energy that Nibenay pro-
session with learning these skills turned Porgo into
not only a better warrior, but a true scout.
vided with wild abandon. She thought her course in
life was set, but then everything changed.
The mul operates as commander of the scouting
A minor misunderstanding (at least from Calet-
patrols. His scouts seek out targets to raid and then
lead the tribe straight to them. Porgo’s combat ex-
ta’s point of view) led to a major mistake as far as
the sorcerer-king was concerned. Caletta’s slaves
perience also enables him to size up each opponent,
brought back only a dozen agafari trees from the
spot strengths and weaknesses, and determine the
best method of attack. In many cases, Sortar turns
Crescent Forest instead of the score Nibenay had
demanded. For their mistake, the entire slave work
command of the warriors over to Porgo so that he
detail was slain. Calette, as the templar overseer in
may best implement his tactics.
One thing Porgo learned as a gladiator was how
charge of the detail, suffered a worse fate. She was
stripped of her templar powers and station, then as-
to kill. He even developed a taste for shedding blood
75
signed to another work detail bound for the forest.
extent that is true, but she also feels a special bond
She was made a slave.
to the man that goes beyond her personal
Caletta learned to hate the sorcerer-king and her
sister templars over the two years she spent as a
schemes—and that bothers her.
slave. Every day she toiled in the forest, cutting
Gammeg
down trees and hauling wood. Every night she returned to the city-state where a crowded slave pen
Human Preserver, Lawful Neutral
and a barely life-sustaining meal waited for her. She
A rmor Class 10
contemplated ways to get back at them all, but every
dream ended when the gate on the pen slammed
Movement 6
Dex 14
Level 3
Hit Points 40
Con 18
Int 22
THAC0 18
Wis 17
No. of Attacks 1
Cha 11
shut behind her.
One day while laboring in the forest, an opportunity for escape presented itself. Caletta took it
Str 16
greedily. Her chance to leave slavery behind came
Damage/Attack: 1d6+1 (quarterstaff)
when a thri-kreen hunting pack appeared in the forest. The mantis warriors decided to prey upon the
slaves and their templar guards. In the heat of bat-
Gammeg is one of four preservers currently working with Sortar’s slave tribe. Like others of his ilk,
tle, Caletta ran. The only thing she took with her
(besides the clothes on her back) was a gythka from
Gammeg uses magic in concert with the environ-
a fallen thri-kreen. She has used the polearm with
ment. He came to the tribe in order to use his magic
freely and to find a place and a people to call his
the wicked blades as her personal weapon ever
since, in tribute to the thri-kreen who inadvertently
own. Though the tribe treats him and the other
helped her gain freedom.
mages with some suspicion, they have also come to
In the wilderness, the combat training she received in her first years as a templar came back to
accept the preservers and even appreciate the help
they provide during combat.
serve her. Without clerical magic to aid her, she had
Gammeg learned magic as an apprentice to a
member of the Veiled Alliance in the city-state of
to rely on her own combat skills to protect her.
While survival was her major concern, Caletta al-
Gulg. He knew it was illegal to practice magic in the
city-states, but Gammeg didn’t care. He found
happiness in magic that he could not find in life, for
lowed the dreams of revenge against Nibenay and
his templars to once again occupy her thoughts. She
would later find realization of these dreams-at least
Gammeg was a slave. He toiled in the forest outside
the city, gathering wild fruits and nuts for the benefit of the oba, Gulg’s sorcerer queen. On certain
in some small part—as a member of Sortar’s Army.
Caletta’s one-time status as a templar made it
hard for her to find a place outside of the city-states,
days, when conditions were right and he wasn’t un-
but she knew that the only place for her within the
der close observation, Gammeg’s contact material-
walls of civilization was in the slave pens-or worse.
When she thought all of her options were used up,
ized out of the forest to conduct brief lessons. This
went on for a number of years, but progress under
Caletta met Sortar’s tribe. It was by the grace of the
these conditions was painfully slow.
The day finally came when Gammeg could stand
powerful warlord that Caletta found acceptance in
the tribe. Now the two are lovers, at least in the
it no longer. He petitioned his contact to help him
escape so that he could learn more about the preserver’s art. Surprisingly, the contact agreed. It took
physical sense, though many say she is simply using
Sortar’s feelings to achieve her own ends. To some
76
many more weeks before the contact proclaimed it
was time. Then, almost without warning, the preserver who had been teaching him cast spells that
confused the other slaves and distracted the guards
and templar overseers. Gammeg was never sure,
but he thought his contact must have had unseen
help from elsewhere in the forest. Before he could
change his mind or even gape at the spectacular display of magic, the preserver led Gammeg out of the
forest and away from Gulg.
He was taken to Altaruk, where another powerful
wizard continued his training. During this time,
Gammeg learned about magic and how to use it
without harming the environment, and he learned
about the Veiled Alliance. He also heard of a slave
tribe called Sortar’s Army that was operating out of
the nearby mountains. Gammeg was told that when
he was ready, he would be sent to join that tribe, for
the Alliance was interested in its leader and the activities he involved his tribe in.
To join the tribe, Gammeg first had to come before them as a slave—something he hadn’t been for
many years. He reluctantly allowed himself to be
captured by a slaver caravan on its way from Altaruk to Gulg for a slave auction. He hoped he had
learned enough to set himself free if Sortar’s Army
didn’t do it for him, for he had no intention of returning to his old city-state in the back of a slave
wagon. A day out from Altaruk, a band of raiders
attacked the caravan. True to the stories Gammeg
had heard, the raiders freed the slaves and offered
invitations to any who wanted to join their benefactors. The tattoos on their faces marked them as part
of Sortar’s Army, and Gammeg readily agreed.
To this day, the preserver has never admitted his
connection to the Veiled Alliance to Sortar or even
to the other mages. In fact, he has had precious little
contact with the Alliance since joining the slave
tribe. Someday he may be approached with orders
to invite Sortar to merge his forces with the Alliance. He feels that such a day would be to both parties’ benefit.
77
What is life like in the slave tribes? Before I an-
in the slave tribes? Compared to life in the slave
swer that question, I must tell you what life is like for
pens, it is glorious!
slaves. As a slave, your life is not your own. You
serve a master, and he may command you as he
The Unspoken Agreement
chooses. What you do from one moment to the next
When an escaped slave finds sanctuary as a
member of a slave tribe, he enters into an unspoken
is dictated by your owner. He tells you what duties to
perform and how to perform them. He provides you
but fully understood agreement with that tribe. For
with shelter and sustenance, as much or as little of
his part, the ex-slave agrees to limit his newfound
each as he sees fit to make available. Whether he is
a good master or a bad one, whether he treats you
freedom for the benefit of the entire tribe. Complete
freedom would result in unrestrained chaos, and the
tribe needs at least a modicum of order to survive.
This limit implies that the ex-slave will work in coop-
as a near-equal or as near-worthless property, your
life is not your own. As a slave, the choices of life
have been taken from you, leaving you with nothing
eration with the rest of the tribe to secure shelter and
but the solid walls of your imprisonment to define
supplies, and to do a fair share of the required work
your world.
Some races and certain individuals cannot survive
(whatever that work happens to be). In exchange for
these limiting factors, the tribe promises to provide
without choices. The walls of slavery crush them
protection, companionship, and a meaningful existence for the ex-slave. A meaningful existence usu-
with a weight born of limits and commands. Halflings, for example, quickly wither and die when
ally requires that the ex-slave goes on enough raids
placed in bondage, and elves show signs of great dis-
to keep the tribe fed and clothed.
In most cases, this agreement loosely binds a host
tress, which manifests itself as a kind of madness.
There are those who survive slavery, and some who
of separate individuals for mutual defense and self-
even find a level of contentment, but no slave truly
interest. In a few cases, it weaves the individuals into
a cohesive unit headed by a strong leader. These
thrives.
Is it any wonder then that what lies beyond the
units eventually reach maturity as a settlement or
walls of their imprisonment catches hold of slaves’
village, organized along either a democratic or totalitarian model of society, depending on the outlook of
imaginations and will not let go? They place their
heads against the walls and listen for barely percep-
the strong leader.
tible sounds, catching bits of noise they cannot identify. The noise has an untamed quality to it that
reminds them of open spaces and clear skies. They
An Ex-Slave Without a Tribe
search for cracks and sniff at the cool, blowing
Never have you been so alone! This day started
breeze. And if these slaves are lucky, they can place
their mind’s eye to a crack and glimpse a sight to
as the last one ended. You are cold, hungry, thirsty,
make their spirits soar. They can see freedom be-
and frightened. All you own are the rags that cov-
yond the walls of their slavery, brief visions that their
imaginations expand to fill the emptiness within
ered you when you escaped and a makeshift weap-
them. Whatever waits for them beyond the walls—
practical purpose. Soon it will become hot, as the
sun rises higher into the morning sky, it will become
on that makes you feel better but serves very little
whether it be hunger or thirst or slow death—they
will gladly accept it as the price of the freedom they
hot. Then your thirst will become worse, and you
might actually find yourself cursing this freedom
you so desperately longed for.
long for.
Now ask me your question again. What is life like
78
What knowledge you possess concerns the duties you had as a slave, and few of these are useful
When the sun begins to set, you find a narrow
crack in the side of a rocky hill. You settle down
in the wild. You need to know how to find food
without blanket or fire, trying to get comfortable
and water, but that was not a skill taught to
within the shallow depression. You fail, but at
slaves, so you go hungry. Of course, desperation
least you get out of the wind. As the darkness of
provides the inspiration to accomplish much to-
night deepens, you try to find shelter in oblivious
ward prolonging your survival, as long as you do
lot allow it to turn to panic. You could hunt, but
sleep. It seems even this is denied you, for the increasing cold, your hunger, and the strange
you have no idea which animals are good to eat or
sounds of night keep sleep at bay.
Perhaps freedom will be better tomorrow.
even where to find them. Perhaps as you wander
something will run across your path. If you get
lucky, it might be small enough and slow enough
Social Organization
for you to kill by yourself. If not, you will spend
another night in hunger.
Slave tribes function within a framework of general rules that every member is expected to follow.
Thirst is worse, though, for the dryness burns
your throat and leaves your mouth raw. You need
to find water, but have no idea which way to go.
Each tribe has a system for ranking its members,
usually based on strength, battle prowess, and other
factors that help a tribe survive. Those members
The masters never taught you to track or live off
the land. They taught you precious little, but at
least there was usually food and water waiting for
whose positions are believed to be critical to the
tribe’s success and those who perform crucial tasks
especially well are ranked higher than others. With
you at the end of a hard day. Your mind wanders,
conjuring images of the slave pens that were once
your home. At least they gave you food and water
these higher ranks goes higher rewards, expressed in
the form of more prestige, a larger share of the
tribe’s wealth, and greater authority and influence.
and a place to rest after a long day of labor.
No! Push such thoughts from your mind!
Whether you live or die now, at least you will do
Whether a slave tribe is a gang of drunken raiders
or an army of disciplined gladiators, it organizes itself with some form of social behavior. Sometimes
so as a free man. But how much better it would
be to live!
The day drags on. You find a pool of stagnant
this organization is a conscious effort; other times it
just falls into place. While there are few hard-andfast rules, there are patterns of behavior that are re-
water and drink deeply. Nothing so foul ever tasted so sweet! You still need to find food, but at
least your thirst has been quenched for a time.
peated from tribe to tribe, due to the way in which
most tribes are created.
A tribe usually begins as a collection of individ-
You wish there was someone to talk to. You are so
lonely. But if you do meet someone, would they be
friendly? Perhaps, but perhaps not. No, on sec-
uals who find themselves thrust together for mutual
protection. When slaves of varied backgrounds mix,
ond thought it might be better to remain lonely.
the weaker among them tend to look toward the
You are virtually defenseless, and anyone you
meet could be an agent of the masters. Or worse,
stronger for guidance and protection. Inevitably, the
soldier and gladiator slaves come to the wilderness
better prepared than the artist and domestic slaves,
they could be raiders who revel in causing pain
and death. Caution must be your company, you
if for no other reason than the warrior classes can
decide, caution and fear.
better defend themselves. This natural tendency for
79
the weak to seek leaders and the strong to lead es-
dependent upon the leader’s success in attaining his
tablishes the internal tribal hierarchy.
At the top of the hierarchy is the tribe’s leader.
This individual achieves his rank through proven
tribe’s goals.
A leader is assisted in his duties by his chief lieutenants. These members of a tribe, no matter what
battle prowess, a display of clear military thinking,
titles they are awarded, help direct the efforts of the
or a combination of the two. Rarely does simply having one or the other talent make a good leader. The
tribe by putting their leader’s commands into effect.
leader organizes the tribe’s activities, plans for possible problems, and quickly offers solutions when
problems assert themselves. Among the slave tribes,
ant. In larger communities, there are many more.
Usually, these assistant leaders are the heads of
hunting or raiding parties, or of whatever units a
leaders who make their communities feel that they
tribe is divided into. They have direct authority over
are contributing to the decision-making process fare
better than those who lord over all with absolute au-
their groups, serving as liaisons between them and
the leader. Without the cooperation of these respect-
In small tribes, there may only be one chief lieuten-
thority. In fact, few leaders who attempt to set them-
ed members of the tribe, a leader could not continue
selves up as dictators remain in their posts for long.
The ex-slaves joined their tribes to start new lives,
to direct his community.
not to place themselves once more in the grip of a
A leader is also assisted by a number of advisors.
These advisors sometimes include the chief lieuten-
master. Anything that reminds them of the templars
and the sorcerer-kings is quickly eliminated.
bers serving in this capacity. Advisors receive no
Because of this aversion to dictatorial societies,
special status as such, for there is rarely a rank in
tribal leaders are careful about what titles they apply
to themselves. Most tribes call their leaders by some
the slave tribe’s social organization specifically for
ants, but there are usually one or two other mem-
those who offer advice. However, advisors often cre-
military rank, usually general or major. Others have
ate their own level of prestige and authority through
adopted a variety of titles, including chief, headman
(or headwoman), and leader. The responsibility for
their proximity to the leader and their role in deciding important issues.
the tribe’s well-being rests with the leader, no matter
Wizards and clerics often find themselves in these
what title he claims for himself. If a tribe prospers, it
is usually due to the fine direction provided by its
advisory roles. Those who work with the arcane arts
are afforded little trust by ex-slave communities, but
leader. If a tribe has no direction or if it begins to
they nonetheless exert influence over a tribe. Their
broader range of knowledge and their ability to use
die, the blame falls upon its leader. In such cases, if
the rest of the tribe recognizes that there is a prob-
magic for the benefit of the tribe place them along-
lem, the headman will be challenged for leadership
side the uppermost members of a tribal hierarchy,
of the tribe or simply replaced. Few replaced leaders
choose to remain with their tribes, opting instead to
even if the fears of the community will not allow
them to be inducted into the hierarchy itself.
take their chances alone. Of course, many replaced
For the most part, even the lowest member of a
leaders have no choice to make as the methods of
removal are often fatal.
tribe’s hierarchy has a say in the day-to-day process
of tribal life. Because of the common background of
Leaders coordinate the interactions of their com-
all slaves, the desire to allow everyone to share in the
munities. Through these coordinated efforts, a tribe
can reach goals that its individual members could
governing process is very strong. Commands, even
those issued by the tribe’s leader, are often seen as
not achieve alone. The satisfaction of the individual
nothing more than suggestions by the members of a
members and the continued existence of a tribe are
80
slave tribe. They obey the commands because they
respect their leader, because they agree with his decisions, or because the situation they find themselves
in demands immediate action.
Customs and Laws
There are few hard-and-fast laws governing behavior from slave tribe to slave tribe. Most ex-slaves
want nothing to do with rules and regulations, for
those are the things they are escaping from. If there
is a common law that all slave tribes share, it is that
there are no laws. There is only cooperation between
a tribe’s members.
Still, certain patterns of behavior can be seen
from tribe to tribe. As many of the members of a
slave tribe are from warrior classes who learned their
manners in the gladiatorial arenas, tribes tend to be
violent places. Disagreements are settled with fists
and swords, and agreements are signed with the
blood of the loser. Strength often makes a person
right, and even ex-slaves from non-warrior backgrounds must learn to give as good as they get if
they want to survive. Freedom and life in a tribe
must be earned every day, and it often must be protected with sharpened bone and stone.
Tribes have universally learned caution, and it becomes second nature to those tribes that survive
more than a cycle in the wilderness. Gaining and
giving trust remains a difficult practice for ex-slaves.
Even the members of the same slave tribe are slow to
trust their companions. Once that trust is won,
however, a tribe member remains loyal to his fellows
until something happens to break that trust. Events
that can shatter the trust of a tribe include any acts
that harken to owners, masters, and overseers.
Because trust is hard to come by, tribes do not
take kindly to visitors. Anyone who wanders into a
slave tribe’s camp is either killed on the spot or held
captive and then killed. No tribe wants the location
of its base of operations known to the outside world,
for such knowledge can lead slavers and other raiders to them. It is the rare exception that sees a
81
visitor—be he slave or freeman-live from one sun-
some great danger, finding something the tribe des-
rise to the next. Slaves do not kill slaves, an old say-
perately needs, or performing some special task at
ing goes: Athas kills slaves. In my experience,
however, slaves kill whomever they must to survive.
the request of the tribe’s leader.
Certain customs have grown out of the harsh con-
When on a raid however, most tribes behave a little
ditions under which the slave tribes live. Common
differently. Few ex-slaves want to see other slaves held
in captivity. Because of this, most tribes try to set slaves
punishments for crimes against a tribe include
death or banishment (which often leads to death). If
free when circumstances permit such an action with
a tribe member accuses another of a crime, it is
little danger to the tribe. A tribe may offer help to
slaves they meet in the field, for these slaves cannot
common for the leader to listen to both sides and
render judgment. There are no provisions for ap-
reveal secrets concerning their benefactors.
peal.
If circumstances allow, and if there is enough food
and water to spare, a tribe will provide whatever it
Other customs deal with such noble beliefs as
rights and liberties. For example, in many tribes it is
can to recently freed slaves. The tribe usually offers
acceptable for two people with a disagreement to
directions to a nearby oasis and a wish of luck to
those they set free. If the escapees seem likable, if
fight each other. The winner of the fight is seen as
the person in the right, and the argument ends.
the tribe is successful enough to support more mem-
Some arguments require only a simple wrestling
bers, and if the tribe feels it needs more members,
some or all of the escapees may be invited to join the
match to prove right and wrong. More serious disagreements lead to battles to the death.
tribe.
Some customs contribute to a tribe’s purposes.
If the slaves decide to accept the tribe’s invitation,
they must pass a series of initiation tests to prove
Others are rooted in sentiment and tradition. And
a select few are in response to tribe members’ mem-
their worth to the tribe. These tests also help to de-
ories of their time in bondage. If a custom that de-
termine each slave’s position in the tribe hierarchy.
Depending on how well an initiate performs, a new
fines social relationships is breached, such as using
the wrong greeting, tribe members may be annoyed
member could find himself with a favored position
or disappointed, but they probably will not repri-
as a hunt or raid leader. Usually, though, a new
member joins the tribe at the bottom of the tribal
mand the offender. If a custom critical to the
achievement of the tribe’s goals is violated, such as
hierarchy. Of course, if a slave fails the tests, mem-
refusing the orders of a raid master while on a raid,
bership is denied. Then he faces an often fatal test
as the tribe turns him out into the desert without
the offender can expect to be severely punished or
even killed. Life is harsh in a slave tribe (indeed,
supplies, or simply kills him on the spot.
throughout Athas), and it often ends quickly and
It is an extremely rare visitor who can prove himself trustworthy and a friend to the tribe. Such a
without warning.
An almost universal custom among the slave
person can leave with supplies and the good wishes
tribes concerns the tribes’ views on race relations.
of the host tribe. To accomplish this, the visitor must
first survive any initial reactions to his arrival (which
To the slave tribes, there are no humans or elves or
muls or dwarves. There are only slaves and masters.
is not an easy feat!) and then perform some special
Under this view, the slave tribes welcome all slaves
service to the tribe. Often, adventurers who wander
into the territory of a slave tribe find this course the
into their ranks (as circumstances permit), no matter what particular racial stock they may come from.
only one open to them if they wish to live another
The slave tribes are the true melting pots of Atha-
day. Such services include saving the tribe from
sian society, for in few other settings can you find
82
thri-kreen and elf working side-by-side for their
common good.
Back at camp, you excitedly describe the raid
to other members of your tribe while sharing in
An Ex-Slave in a Tribe
the evening meal. After the meal, you help with a
few chores before the sun completely sets. As the
stars fill the night sky, you settle into a warm tent,
The day begins with a morning meal eaten
around the communal fire. The meal consists of
surprised at how tired you are. The sleeping furs
roasted erdlu meat, dried farro leaves, and cool
tea—all provided by the previous day’s raid.
feel comfortable against your cool skin, and sleep
comes quickly. You drift off, thanking the ele-
Around you are your friends and raiding com-
ments that you are part of such a wealthy and
panions, the members of the tribe you proudly
call your own. You eat and drink your fill, think-
powerful tribe. Freedom, you decide, is a wonderful thing.
ng how fortunate you are to have been accepted
into this tribe of ex-slaves.
As the meal draws to a close, your raiding par-
Lifestyle
ty leader calls a meeting to discuss the day’s work.
When we speak of lifestyle in connection with the
slave tribes, we usually speak in terms of two differ-
He starts by outlining the suggestions of the
tribe’s leader, then adds his own thoughts. Once
ent approaches to tribal life. One approach is the
he has finished, he asks the rest of the party for
nomadic approach. This is the least-often adopted
lifestyle of the slave tribes, for few newly formed
tribes have the experience or knowledge to survive in
opinions and ideas. You still marvel at the fact
hat someone in authority asks you what you
think about an important subject. Finally, after
this manner. The other, more common approach is
the permanent settlement.
everyone has had a say and the decisions have
been made, you gather your weapons and travel-
Nomadic tribes travel from place to place seeking
ing gear. It is time to go in search of a fully loaded
the things they need to survive. Instead of trying to
defend a parcel of land that may or may not always
caravan.
You are in luck, for after only a few hours you
be able to meet the needs of the group, a nomad
chance to come upon a small merchant caravan.
tribe carries everything it owns across Athas. While
they may seem to be purposeless wanderers, the no-
The raid master assesses the situation, but asks
none of the party members for advice. The time
madic tribes actually follow a set course. Sometimes
for group discussion is past. Now, in the middle
they travel caravan trails, for many nomadic tribes
raid caravans for supplies. Other times, nomads
of a raid, only the raid master’s decisions matter.
He directs the party with succinct orders, and you
seek out oases or animal herds.
Life for the nomads consists of almost constant
movement. They travel by day, set up temporary
and the others hurry to carry them out.
Using proven techniques and oft-practiced maneuvers, the raid unfolds as the raid master
camps by night, and move out by morning’s light.
planned it. Everything goes right, and the few
While a nomad tribe might stay at a particularly
good oasis for a few days, it will shortly resume its
guards assigned to the caravan surrender with
hardly a show of resistance. You smile as you ex-
endless trek.
amine the contents of the cargo, for these sup-
The reason few slave tribes adopt this lifestyle is
that it exposes them to too many people. Ex-slaves
plies will keep the tribe well-stocked for at least
another week.
83
are a suspicious lot, and every group they happen
upon could be agents of the templars and sorcerer-
slave tribe camp. In addition, all tribe members who
wish to (and have not already learned while serving
kings. Additionally, nomadic life means lots of social interaction with the various people met on the
their masters) can learn to read and write. When
they escape to a slave tribe, ex-slaves who possess
trail. Ex-slaves, with some exceptions, are ill-
forbidden knowledge bring it with them and pass it
equipped to be social and friendly to strangers.
Slave tribes that establish settlements approach
along to all who want to learn.
Behind every tribal practice, belief, and way of life
life in a different manner. To them, stability is their
is the unspoken fear that freedom will not last. This
means of survival. Like the city-states, a settlement
builds sturdy walls and gates to protect itself from
fear manifests itself in a spirit of blissfulness. The
ex-slaves, ever thankful for the freedom they have,
hostile outsiders. Within the walls, the settlers es-
live from moment to moment, enjoying the time in
tablish homesteads full of as many comforts as they
can afford. By staying in one place, the members of
freedom that has been given to them. A common
saying in many slave tribes sums up the attitude of
a slave tribe settlement have more time for endeav-
many ex-slaves: “Eat, drink, and dance, for tomor-
ors other than those needed to ensure daily survival.
Also, a well-hidden camp that can be returned to
row we are slaves.”
Religion, Magic, and Psionics
after a raid gives a tribe a sense of protection and
home. By returning to a stable base, tribes can heal
wounds, rest, enjoy the spoils of their plunder, and
Clerical magic, wizardry, and psionics can all be
found at work in the tribes, but each is accorded a
comfortably plan their next raid without worrying
different place and level of respect.
about what they will find over the next dune.
These two approaches also help define the means
Clerical magic as practiced by the elemental
priests is the most revered of the supernatural
of existence for the slave tribes. The nomads are pri-
forces. The clerics of air, earth, fire, and water are
marily raiders, for they must constantly replenish
their supplies. They can store only what they can
welcomed into the tribes, for the blessings they can
bestow greatly enhance a tribe’s standard of living
easily carry, making frequent raids a necessity. The
and means of protection.
settlers, on the other hand, have more choices when
it comes to means of existence. Settlements enable a
Templars, on the other hand, do not receive the
same welcome afforded the elemental priests. For
tribe to farm and raise herds if it so desires, to set up
one thing, ex-templars do not have access to all of
artisan shops, or to establish trading posts. The
tribe may still need to carry out raids to supplement
the clerical power once at their command. For another, the templars—even those stripped of rank
its means of existence, but it is in no way limited to
and cast into slavery —remind ex-slaves of their past.
just this method of acquiring wealth and supplies.
No matter which approach a slave tribe takes, all
Nothing brings back memories of captivity and
hard labor like the presence of a known templar. Ex-
have a rich cultural life to participate in. Members
templars are allowed to join tribes, but they are nev-
of a slave tribe tend to be more artistic than free folk
in the cities. The arts are seen as chores in the cities,
er given positions of leadership.
The same is true of wizards. Whether they are
and chores are left to slaves. Consequently, escaped
defilers or preservers, wizards and the powers they
slaves bring the arts to the tribes, where they can
practice them as they see fit.
wield remind the tribes of the sorcerer-kings. The
tribes are wary of magical powers, but they also real-
Singing, dancing, painting, sculpting,
ize that these powers can greatly aid a tribe. Wiz-
storytelling—all these and more fill the idle time in a
ards find a level of acceptance in slave com-
84
Tasks
munities that they do not find anywhere else. In the
city-states, the use of magic is illegal. That is not the
All tribe members share equally in the day-to-day
tasks necessary to the tribe’s survival. The most
case in most slave tribe villages. Wizards are tolerated, and so they lend their skills to the ex-slave
common tasks include preparing meals, skinning
communities. No matter how tolerant a particular
and preserving hunted animals, repairing clothes
and equipment, keeping weapons in working condi-
slave tribe may be, it never allows more than one
type of wizard to practice their arts in the commu-
tion, and feeding and caring for any herd animals
nity. The two approaches—respect for life forces
the tribe may keep.
Other tasks usually require specialized skills.
versus the destruction of life forces—are not compatible, and usually lead to friction and outright
Making weapons and armor, making clothes and
hostility when practiced side-by-side.
pottery, hunting, and patrolling the tribe’s perime-
As many humans and demihumans on Athas
have psionic powers, no special attitudes concerning
ter all fall to the artisans and warriors, respectively.
Finally, the most important tasks are those by
psionicists exist. Wild talents are so common as to
which a tribe procures its means of existence. Raiding tribes must conduct raids. Settlements must
not even cause a stir, and true psionicists with access
to many disciplines are welcomed into the highest
plant and harvest. All must secure food and water.
ranks. In fact, those tribes with trained psionicists
Whatever is necessary to the survival and well-being
of the tribe must be done, and whoever is available
often set up training programs dedicated to teaching members who wish to learn how to better har-
and capable must do it.
ness their own mental abilities.
85
Threats to the Slave Tribes
The tribes face many threats to their existence,
from both within and without. Internal conflicts
concerning leadership or other disputes can erupt
into bloody violence, for the tribes draw the majority
of their members from those classes who think with
their weapons. Because the bonds holding the exslaves together are only as strong as each slave’s
commitment, any major disagreements can tear the
fragile structures apart. Leaders must remember
this and direct the fiercely independent slaves while
making them believe they are participating in the
decision-making process.
While the threats from within a tribe can be deadly, we must not forget the threats from without. It is
said that slave tribes have a thousand enemies.
These include other slave tribes, a variety of raiding
groups, many monsters, slavers from the city-states,
an even Athas itself, which turns weather and terrain against the hardiest bands.
No matter where the threats come from or what
they consist of, the only way for a slave tribe to survive is for its members to work together. Alone, the
escaped slaves cannot hope to stand against those
that threaten them. Together, as part of a tribe, the
slaves’ chances increase significantly.
86
Daled’s chronicle introduced you to the world of
those elements you think you need for a particular
the slave tribes. Besides giving you an overview of
life in a slave tribe and a perspective on Athasian
session. You can always come back and fill out the
rest at a later date if the tribe survives to make an-
slavery, the chronicle also provided information on a
other appearance.
number of different types of slave tribes currently
If the tribe is central to a particular adventure,
then it deserves to be as fully developed as you can
operating in the Tyr region. This appendix takes
the world of the slave tribes one step further. It pro-
make it. You need to know the motivations and per-
vides both DMs and players with details and sug-
sonalities of the various tribe members in order to
gestions for creating their own slave tribes.
The details of creating a tribe depend on who
effectively role-play key scenes. You also need to
know the tribe members’ game abilities to run com-
wants to create it and for what purpose. DMs will
bat and other game-mechanic related situations.
approach tribe creation from a completely different
So, what are the various elements that go into cre-
direction than players. For this reason, this appendix is divided into two main sections: Dungeon
ating a slave tribe? You need to decide upon a num-
Master Creation and Player Creation.
each element, the more colorful and exciting the
ber of things, and the more detail you can add to
tribe. These elements include the tribe’s name, size,
Dungeon Master Creation
primary alignment, operations and means of existence, personality, origin and background, location
and defenses, responses to typical actions, strengths
As a Dungeon Master running a DARK SUN™
campaign, you need to create slave tribes for a varie-
and weaknesses, and its most important members.
ty of reasons. You may want to build an adventure
Each of these elements come together to create a
slave tribe. Depending on the tribe’s role in your
around the PCs meeting a specific slave tribe, or
you may need to quickly generate a tribe if your PCs
adventure or campaign, not every element will have
unexpectedly strike off into the desert. What follows
to be considered in great length initially. You may
want to go back and add details at a later date, how-
is general advice on fleshing out a slave tribe, as well
as a quick generation system to use when you need
ever, if you think the tribe will play a part in further
to create a tribe on the spur of the moment.
adventures. Where possible, we have included a
quick generation table to help you randomly decide
The slave tribes should be viewed as any other
part of adventure and world design. A tribe is just a
on an element. As with all random generation sys-
group of NPCs, and it should be as detailed and
tems, this one is only presented as a guide. You
complete as you need it to be to run an encounter or
group of encounters. Usually, you will place a tribe
should not feel locked into the roll of a die or obliged
to use the system just because it’s here. Instead, let it
into your campaign world to fulfill a specific
help you be more creative—and toss it out if it gets
purpose -either as a friend or foe to your PCs, as a
source of information or a hindrance, or as a mood-
in your way.
A final note before we move on. The DARK
setting device or background element to make the
SUN world is gritty and dangerous. Think accord-
scene more real. How much detail you put into the
creation of a tribe depends on how important that
ingly when adding details to each element. Life is
hard on Athas, and its inhabitants have become
tribe is to your campaign.
hard in response. Violence and death are commonplace, and the people can be as unforgiving as the
If the tribe in question is designed to be nothing
more than a minor obstacle or a background ele-
world itself.
ment, then it is silly to put too much time and effort
into every part of the creation process. Develop only
87
Table IB: Possible Locations
Tribe Name
(Roll 1d20)
Every slave tribe goes by some descriptive term.
Without a name, the members of a tribe would have
Sea of Silt
1
Along the shore
2
On an island
no way to identify themselves. Also, a good name
tells you much about the tribe it is applied to. The
more colorful the epithet, the more real a tribe will
3
Ruins
seem.
The Tablelands
When deciding upon a name, there are three basic approaches. A tribe’s name can come from the
4
Stony barrens
name of its leader or founder, from the area it lives
5
Sandy wastes
or operates in, or from a descriptive term for the
tribe’s basic means of existence. In addition, many
6
Salt flats
7
Rocky badlands
tribal names are formed by some combination of the
8
Scrub plains
above. For example, Werrik’s Stalkers takes its
name from the name of their leader (Werrik) and
9
Beside an inland silt basin
10
Ruins
from the primary means of existence they employ to
11
Hidden Oasis
survive (stalking runaway slaves). The Black Sand
Raiders, on the other hand, have combined the un-
The Ringing Mountains
usual terrain feature of their base of operations (an
12
Foot hills
ancient set of ruins surrounded by black sand) with
their primary means of existence (raiding) to form
13
14
Canyons
The mountains
their name.
15
Ruins
The tables below provide some samples of means
of existence and locations, as well as a random
16
Hidden valley
method for determining a slave tribe’s name. For
The Hinterlands
example, if you roll 15 on Table 1A, and 17 on
Table 1C, you might call your tribe Horgon’s Rav-
17
Stony barrens
18
19
Scrub plains
Ruins
20
Hidden Oasis
agers.
Quick Generation Table I: Tribal Name
Table IA: Source of Name
Table IC: Sample Descriptive Terms
(Roll 1d20)
1-4
A. Founder or leader’s name
5-7
8-11
B. Location
C. Primary means of existence
12-13
A and B combined
14-16
17-19
A and C combined
B and C combined
20
A, B and C combined
88
1-3
4-5
Raiders
Pillagers
6
Plunderers
7
8-3
Stalkers
10
Warriors
11
12-13
Pirates
Brigands
14
Reavers
Hunters
15-16
Marauders
broad outlook of the group. Individuals members
17-18
Ravagers
could possess any alignment you see fit to give them.
19-20
Predators
Quick Generation Table 3: Tribe Alignment
(Roll 1d20)
Tribe Size
How large is the tribe you want to create? Is it a
small band? A hamlet? A full village? The size of
the tribe determines what kind of activities it can
pursue, how strong it is, and even how easily it can
find food and water.
1
Lawful Good
2-3
Lawful Neutral
4-6
Lawful Evil
Neutral Good
7-7
10- 11
While the size of the tribe should be based on
how you want it to fit into your campaign, you could
use the following quick generation system to randomly decide its size. Of course, the size of the tribe
will determine the direction of the rest of the creation process.
True Neutral
12- 14
15-16
Neutral Evil
Chaotic Good
17-18
Chaotic Neutral
17-20
Chaotic Evil
Operations and Means of Existence
Quick Generation Table 2: Tribe Size
(Roll 1d100)
Every slave tribe’s foremost goals are to survive
and remain free. In the harsh, unforgiving wilderness of Athas, there is room for little else. How a
01-35
36-70
Small (up to 50 members)
Medium.60 to 200 members)
tribe fulfills these goals says much about the tribe
and its members.
71-90
Large (200 to 500 members)
71-00
Huge (500 + members)
Most tribes are interested in plundering from all
who come their way. What distinguishes each tribe
is how it plunders, where it plunders, and how far it
Primary Alignment
is willing to go in order to survive.
A tribe’s means of existence supports its efforts to
fulfill its goals. Some tribes have a secondary means
Tribes, like characters, have alignments. A tribe’s
alignment determines the way its members operate
of existence, others engage in only one. These
as a group, giving the DM a clear picture of how
means of existence are often accomplished through
specific operations, such as conducting raids, am-
this tribe will behave. As with any group, however,
the individuals who make up this tribe can come
bushing and attacking caravans, and scouting out
from a variety of alignments.
potential targets. Secondary operations could include farming, gathering, hunting, sending out act-
For example, a chaotic good tribe may make a
habit of sparing the lives of those they raid, while a
ing troupes (like Salt View), posing as freemen
chaotic evil tribe revels in orderless violence directed
artisans (like Tenpug’s Band), or even pretending to
be legitimate traders in order to exchange goods
at everyone they meet.
You should pick an alignment that best describes
with other villages.
the behavior you envision for the tribe as a whole.
What a tribe does to maintain its survival and
freedom often dictates the manner in which it meets
The quick generation table should be used only
when you are creating a tribe on the fly. And re-
up with PCs. Raiders may attack the PCs while
member, the tribe’s alignment determines only the
they are traveling. A farming community may be
89
90
have adopted clothing and adornments that are almost uniforms. Clothing, armor, jewelry, hairstyles,
encountered while the PCs are exploring an out-ofthe-way region of Athas. When you decide on the
termine how it goes about the business of surviving.
and even body decorations, such as tattoos, can be
used to give a tribe its own memorable appearance.
For example, a very poor slave tribe may clothe its
Personality
members in rags because that is the only clothing it
can afford. Another, like the Free, contains such
primary and secondary (if there is one) means of existence, combine it with the tribe’s alignment to de-
free-spirited members that each tries to outdo the
A tribe, like a character, needs a personality to
make it memorable and engaging. Build a tribe’s
other as far as their appearance goes. On the other
extreme, Werrik’s Stalkers have adopted the same
personality around such elements as the appearance
striking hairstyle and Sortar’s Army has marked its
of the tribe’s members, the tribe’s specific method
of operation, and the motives driving it when it en-
members with facial tattoos to identify them as part
of the group. Even the Black Sand Raiders wear
counters your PCs.
similar black hooded cloaks when pillaging a pass-
The appearance of a tribe’s members can range
ing caravan.
Try to develop distinctive traits, unusual methods
from no standard dress to rigid uniformity, depending on your desires, as long as the look is distinctive
of operation, and powerful motives when creating
enough to make a lasting impression on your play-
new slave tribes to populate your DARK SUN
campaign.
ers. Some tribes are so individualistic that each
member adopts his own style of dress. Others have
formed such tight-knit groups that the members
91
Origin and Background
base and the defenses protecting it, even if you
don’t think the PCs will ever visit it. And who
Each tribe you create takes on a life of its own
once all of the various elements are in place. Even
knows? A creative group of players might surprise
you with the actions of their PCs.
so, no tribe can be complete without the details from
Make each tribe’s location special and interest-
the past that molded it. In most cases, these details
relate to the tribe’s origin. Most origins play impor-
ing. To do this, base it in an exotic or unique locale.
Look at the examples in this book. One tribe built a
tant roles in the subsequent formation and actions
village in the bottom of a huge crater. Another set
of the tribes. For example, Werrik’s Stalkers became slave traders because of the treatment their
leader suffered while she was a slave.
up a secure base deep within an ancient salt mine.
Still another took over the ruins of an ancient city,
ignoring the tinge of evil that continues to hang over
Origins usually revolve around the strong leader
the place like a burial shroud.
Rarely does a slave tribe exist solely as a nomadic
who takes control of an existing tribe or forges a new
one by offering direction to escaped slaves. While
group. While a tribe may range far from a central
all slave tribes allow their members great amounts of
point to conduct raids, most return to a secure base
after the raid has ended. A few of these raiding vil-
freedom and self-determination, they often follow
the urges and ideas of the strong individual who
lages might have small farms or even facilities for
leads them.
Slave tribes are also built upon the events that
herd animals, but these functions are secondary at
best. Mostly, these villages are designed to provide
shaped their background. Important events that for-
protection for their tribe while it is resting between
ever influence a slave tribe include the discovery or
raids.
loss of a secure base of operations and significant
raids they have been involved in.
After you pick a locale for the village, you need to
draw a map and decide what defenses the tribe has
Together, the origin and background of a tribe
help to create its history. Without a history, a tribe
set up to protect itself. The map can be as detailed
and complicated as you wish to make it. Go into
seems artificial and two-dimensional. It might have
whatever level of detail you need to run encounters
height and width, but without a past, a tribe has no
depth. A vibrant history, filled with events that
in the village should the PCs find themselves there.
The same goes for the village’s defenses. Are the
shape your campaign area, will create a rich setting
defenses simply handled by the unusual terrain, or
for play. Give your slave tribe a clear and intriguing
past, and it will help you determine its own future.
has the tribe built walls, set traps, and placed sentries to further protect itself from wild creatures, roving slavers, and other tribes? Whatever you decide,
Location and Defenses
the details you add will further develop your slave
tribe into a memorable group of characters.
Almost all slave tribes are raiding tribes. Runaway slaves often lack the skills or resources to be-
Standard Responses
come anything else. If you need a slave tribe to use
in an encounter while the PCs are traveling, you
How does the slave tribe you are creating deal
may not need to know very much about the location
with non-tribe members? Hardly at all and with a
of the tribe’s camp or village. However, the more
details you put into the creation of a tribe, the more
good deal of suspicion. Still, why create a tribe to
use in an adventure if it will have nothing to do with
the tribe enriches your campaign. For that reason,
your PCs? You must determine the standard re-
we suggest developing the location of the tribe’s
sponses to whatever you believe your PCs may do
92
Quick Generation Table 4: Tribal Attitudes Toward
Strangers
when they encounter the tribe. Determining how the
tribe deals with outsiders will direct the course of the
encounter with the PCs. For this reason, unless it
truly does not matter, this decision should be made
(Roll 1d10)
with careful consideration and planning.
Do you want the tribe to be enemies bent on the
destruction of the PCs, or do you want them to just
be hostile toward strangers? Enemies tend to be
raiders who want to kill or capture the people they
plunder, while hostile tribes attack to drive away
strangers and keep themselves safe. They could also
1
Friendly but cautious
2-5
G-7
10
Neutral but cautious
Hostile
Enemy
How Do PCs Join the Tribe?
This question needs to be answered only if you
think the PCs might want to join the tribe you have
be neutral in their dealings. Many tribes approach
strangers in this manner. A few could even be
designed and they have a background as ex-slaves.
friendly, though the cautious nature of ex-slaves
In this case, think carefully about the manner in
usually precludes this except in extraordinary cir-
which you want to approach this subject. More than
cumstances.
likely, it will be the basis for a full adventure or even
a series of adventures as the PCs attempt to prove
their worth through quests and special missions.
You must decide, based upon the tribe you have
created, if the tribe would even consider the PCs for
membership (keep in mind that no slave tribes offer
93
membership to non-slaves). If the answer is yes, then
adventure much too quickly.
you must come up with a series of tests that the tribe
would use to determine the worth of the PCs. Keep
Important Tribal NPCs
in mind that you want to make these tests logical
Who are the leaders of the tribe you created?
and as harsh as the burning winds of Athas. A
Who are its members? The NPCs who populate a
raiding tribe that asks the PCs to engage in a trading mission probably won’t make sense in the con-
tribe will make it come alive, so make sure they fit
the mold you have sculpted, or if they break it, give
text of the campaign, and a tribe that demands
them good reasons for doing so. You need only cre-
proof of a PC’s farming skills isn’t in the mood or
ate as many individual NPCs as you think the PCs
spirit of a tough DARK SUN™ adventure.
will want to interact with. Typical members are important, for they are usually the first ones the PCs
Strengths and Weaknesses
Every slave tribe must have strengths and weak-
will meet. Low to mid-level leaders are important,
for they will come to investigate the visitors. Only if
nesses. Without these, you won’t be able to deter-
your PCs are powerful in their own right will you
mine possible outcomes to the meetings between the
need to bring in the tribe’s leader.
Look at the tribe members included with the slave
tribe and your PCs.
Strengths can range from the talents and abilities
tribes presented earlier in this book for inspiration
of important members of the tribe to the location
where the tribe set up its village or camp. A power-
and samples. Here are a few sample NPCs for the
quick generation system:
ful cleric, psionicist, or wizard who owes allegiance
situation. So, too, can the presence of experienced
Sample Tribal Member: I n t A v g ; A L C N ; A C 8
(carru leather); MV 12; HD 3; hp 20; THAC0 18;
warriors, good leaders, and tactical geniuses. As for
#AT 1; Dmg Id6 (club); SZ M; ML 10
the location of the camp, the tribe that makes its
home amid the ruins of the ancients might have ac-
Sample Tribal Sub-Leader: Int High; AL NG; AC
to the tribe can drastically affect the outcome of any
6 (mekillot hide); MV 12; HD 6; hp 35; THAC0
15; #AT 1; Dmg Ids- 1 (obsidian long sword, -2
cess to objects made of metal. Armor, swords,
shields, and other metallic items can make the difference in engagements of life and death.
to attack roll); SZ M; ML 11
Weaknesses include flaws that the PCs can exploit in order to emerge from an encounter victorious. These weaknesses should not be blatant, but as
Sample Tribal Chief: Int High; AL LN; AC 4 (mekillot hide); MV 12; HD 3; hp 5 1; THAC0 12;
DM you should drop hints so that quick-thinking
#AT 3/2; Dmg 1d10 (steel two-handed sword); SZ
players can figure out a plan of action for their PCs.
Weaknesses can take the form of dissention in the
M; ML 12
Player Creation
ranks, a flaw in the tribe’s typical tactics, or even
some aversion the tribe has (to a particular area, for
instance).
Players want to create slave tribes for different
reasons than Dungeon Masters. In a DARK SUN
Consider the strengths and weaknesses you give
campaign, PCs want to establish slave tribes for the
to your tribes carefully. You don’t want to create a
tribe of ex-slaves so powerful that they can over-
same reasons that others want to build strongholds
and gather followers. As such, the creation of a PC
throw a city-state. Similarly, you don’t want to cre-
slave tribe must be worked out with the DM. The
ate a tribe with obvious weaknesses that can end an
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creation of the tribe will doubtless become the object
and the existing background of the PCs (provided
of many adventures and possibly even the focus of
they were once slaves) will serve as the initial back-
the campaign itself for a period of time.
When players decide that they want their PCs to
ground for the tribe. It is also a good idea for the
establish a tribe, they must first discuss the matter
ing the type of location they would like for their
with their Dungeon Master. They will need his co-
tribe’s village, as well as a few possible strengths and
weaknesses.
players to give the DM some suggestions concern-
operation to build appropriate scenarios into the
campaign. If the DM decides that he cannot work
Of course, not everything will always go as the
such events into his current storyline, the players
must live with that decision for the time being. How-
PCs wish. All of the troubles and other problems
inherent in forming a tribe become the obstacles of
ever, the DM should make every effort to eventually
adventures. The final goal remains the creation of
fit the players’ desires into his campaigns.
the tribe, if the PCs can achieve it.
players to do a little planning. Using the guidelines
This method of campaign creation by both the
DM and the players can lead to exciting situations
given in the Dungeon Master Creation section, the
players should sketch out a rough model of the tribe
and a sharing of the DM’s heavy workload. Of
course, the DM is not obligated to follow every play-
they wish to create. They should include ideas for a
er suggestion to the letter, but by defining the goals
tribe name, the size of the tribe they wish to found,
its primary alignment, and the operations and
they wish to accomplish, the players can inform the
DM of the direction they want to see the campaign
means of existence they foresee for the tribe. The
take. This leads to an enjoyable campaign for all
adventures to follow will flesh out the tribe’s origin,
concerned.
After initial approval from the DM, it is up to the
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